WORK AND PENSIONS

Poverty

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to announce a new definition of poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: Poverty is a complex multi-dimensional problem. The fourth XOpportunity for all" report (Cm 5598) sets out our strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents the latest information on the indicators used to monitor progress against our strategy. Specifically on child poverty, last April we launched XMeasuring child poverty: a consultation document". We will be in a position to publish preliminary conclusions from the consultation by this spring.

Redundancies

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people affected by large scale redundancies to find new work.

Nick Brown: In April 2002 we launched the Rapid Response Service to offer a coherent, tailored response to redundancies and help those people affected make the transition into sustainable new jobs.
	By December 2002 in the North West region, the Rapid Response Service had provided support to 25 companies and made its services available to over 5,000 people facing redundancy.

Pension Schemes

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to encourage companies to retain existing final salary pension schemes and to make them available to new employees.

Ian McCartney: We published the Green Paper XSimplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677) on 17 December 2002. It provides a framework to help individuals save more in partnership with employers by providing a regulatory framework that supports employers in providing and contributing to good quality pension schemes. The Government's strategy is based on three linked proposals: major simplification of private pensions regulation and tax rules to ease burdens on employers and promote private provision; greater protection for scheme members to increase confidence and help to ensure that people get the pensions they expect; helping employers to provide better information for employees to help employees to understand the value of their pension scheme and to facilitate informed choice. The Green Paper makes clear that different types of scheme suit employees with different characteristics and that overall no particular scheme type is invariably better than the others. Defined contribution schemes tend to be better for employees who move jobs more frequently. The focus, therefore, should be on building on employer commitment and emphasising the advantages to both employer and employee of workplace pension provision. The Green Paper proposals to radically simplify the regulatory regime for pensions could, in total, save employers #150-#200 million a year in administration.

Unemployment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people of working age who are neither working nor registered as seeking work or as benefit claimants.

Nick Brown: About four million people of working age are not working or claiming unemployment related benefit but are claiming another out of work benefit.
	In addition other working age people, for example those who are financially independent, students and people looking after the family home, are not active in the labour market and are not claiming an out of work benefit.

Second Pensions

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government are taking to persuade people of working age to contribute to second pensions.

Ian McCartney: We believe that if people have the right information and clear choices they will plan for their retirement sensibly. Currently, informed choice is frustrated by complexity.
	The Green Paper offers a simple framework to help people understand their options and to give individuals clear information tailored to their own circumstances so they can see how the choices they face relate back to their own retirement prospects. A new pensions advice line and an improved web-based retirement planner will be set up. This builds on the improvements already in train with the new Pension Service which is now rolling out nationally. York pension centre opened on 28 October 2002 and is establishing itself along contact centre lines. Proposals in the Green Paper include significantly extended coverage of combined state and occupational pension forecasts which early research shows have the potential to encourage many people to save more.

State Pensions

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the Green Paper on Pensions, with special reference to plans for state pensions.

Ian McCartney: The Green Paper, XSimplicity, security and choice, working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677), set out our proposals to simplify occupational and private pensions saving and make flexible retirement easier, following our earlier reforms to state provision and to financial services. Our proposals will enable people to make informed choices about their retirement provision, building on the foundation of state pension support. As the Green Paper explained, we have already taken action to reform the system of state support for pensioners, focussing in particular on tackling pensioner poverty. Specifically, we introduced the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) which is currently worth #98.15 a week for single pensioners and #149.80 for couples. Around 2.1 million people in the UK are benefiting from the MIG now.
	From October this year the MIG is being subsumed by the more generous Pension Credit which will reward pensioners with savings, second pensions or earnings, yielding incomes up to #139 a week for single pensioners and nearly #204 a week for couples. In addition we brought in the State Second Pension from April 2002 to boost the pension rights of low and moderate earners and bring in groups of non-workers for the first time. Around 4.5 million low earners will build up an additional State Pension worth at least twice what SERPS would have provided. Two million carers and two million disabled people also build up pension rights for the first time. Also, from this April the basic State Pension will be worth #77.45 a week for single pensioners which is a 7 per cent. real terms increase since 1997. And in future years we are committed to increasing the basic State Pension by at least 2.5 per cent., even if the Retail Price Index (RPI) is below this.
	Other measures we introduced include free TV licences for those aged over 75, which benefits four million households and Winter Fuel payments now worth #200 each year for eligible households. Around 11 million people benefited from Winter Fuel payments for winter 2001–02. We considered that this state support for pensioners we have put in place provides the right foundation for retirement. We were not persuaded by calls to increase State Pension age for a number of reasons, including that such a change would have a disproportionate effect on the poorest pensioners. We are currently consulting on the proposals in the Green Paper.

Incapacity Benefit

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has for reducing the number of incapacity benefit claimants.

Nick Brown: We have no targets for getting people who claim incapacity benefit into work. Our Green Paper, XPathways to Work", sets out our strategy for enabling people on incapacity benefit to move into work, and so become and remain independent.

Child Poverty (London)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in reducing child poverty in London.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's commitment to tackling poverty and social exclusion throughout the United Kingdom is well known. In particular, we have made a clear pledge to abolish child poverty in a generation and to halve it by 2010. We will end the scourge of child poverty in London and in the rest of the UK.
	In the fourth XOpportunity for All" report (CM 5598), we describe the action we have taken to tackle poverty and social exclusion. Progress is monitored against a wide range of indicators.

Benefit Fraud

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what security procedures he has put in place to prevent fraudulent claims for family credit, with special reference to the use of maiden names.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	All applications for WFTC go through a stringent verification process to ensure payment is made to the correct applicant. Use of a maiden name will not circumvent these checks on the applicant's identity.

Benefit Inquiry Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the Benefit Inquiry Line.

Maria Eagle: The Benefit Enquiry Line is a confidential telephone advice and information service for people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. It offers general advice and information about all social security benefits and how to claim them. It can offer advice and assistance with completing many disability-related claim forms and provides a leaflet and claim form distribution service. It will also sign-post people to other services where appropriate. The Benefit Enquiry Line answers approximately 23,000 calls per week.
	The Benefit Enquiry Line aims to meet the National DWP Call Centre Target of answering 90 per cent. of calls within 30 seconds. Currently the Enquiry Line answers approximately 55 per cent. of calls within this target.
	The Disability and Carers Service is reviewing the role of the Benefit Enquiry Line in the context of the changes being made by Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service to provide a more complete service to their customers. The review is on-going and no decision has been taken by Ministers on any outcome.

Bereavement Allowance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) claimants there were and (b) what amount was claimed in respect of Bereavement Allowance in each month since its introduction; and how many persons were eligible to claim the allowance but did not receive it;
	(2)  how many and what amount of bereavement payments were made in each month since their introduction; and how many persons were eligible to claim such payments but did not receive them.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is published in the Work and Pensions Statistics 2002, a copy of which is in the Library.

DLA Call Centre

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the disability living allowance call centre.

Maria Eagle: The disability living allowance and attendance allowance helpline provides advice and information on claims to these benefits and takes details of changes of circumstances, as well as explaining decisions, to customers or their authorised representatives. It answers approximately 80,000 calls per week.
	The helpline aims to meet the National DWP Call Centre target of answering 90 per cent. of calls within 30 seconds. It is currently only answering 25 per cent. in 30 seconds. An extensive programme of call analysis, recruitment and training is being undertaken in order to improve performance.

Housing Benefit

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what impact on prospective tenants his Department expects to see from the pilot schemes for reforming housing benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The standard local housing allowance means that, for the first time, tenants will know in advance what support they will receive, allowing them to make their own choices about the quality and price of their accommodation.
	I am pleased that Blackpool borough council, which includes my hon. Friend's constituency, has accepted our invitation to become one of the pathfinders for the new allowance, which marks a radical step forward in the simplification of housing benefit.

Minimum Income Guarantee

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many people will qualify for the minimum income guarantee; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: As at August 2002 there were 1.76 million pensioners receiving the minimum income guarantee (MIG) which means that they need not live on less than #98.15 a week, #102.10 from April. This is on top of our #200 a year winter fuel payments, free TV licences for the over-75s, worth #104 a year, and above inflation increases to the basic state pension.
	From October all existing minimum income guarantee recipients will be automatically transferred to pension credit, which will for the first time reward—not penalise—savings, ensuring those who have worked hard to save modest amounts will gain from having done so.

Minimum Income Guarantee

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have benefited from the minimum income guarantee in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Gateshead; and what was the average uplift.

Ian McCartney: As at August 2002, 12,800 pensioners in Newcastle upon Tyne received on average #43.63 Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) per week and 8,400 pensioners in Gateshead received an average weekly MIG of #41.92.
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2002.

CABINET OFFICE

Capita Group

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department.

Douglas Alexander: Current Cabinet Office contracts with parts of the Capita Group are as follows:
	
		
			 Capita Group Contract 
		
		
			 Capita Business Services Fast Stream Recruitment Support 
			 Capita Business Services Provision of Civil Service and Judicial Pensioner Payroll and Associated Services 
			 Capita RAS Recruitment of four Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

Civil Servants

David Atkinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants there were in each year since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The number of permanent, full-time equivalent staff in April of each year is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1997 475,660 
			 1998 463,270 
			 1999 459,600 
			 2000 475,420 
			 2001 482,690 
			 2002 490,220 
		
	
	These figures, together with further information on Civil Service staffing levels, are published twice yearly by Press Notice. Copies are available from the Library of the House.

Congestion Charge

Peter Viggers: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who will pay the London congestion charge for ministerial cars.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy White Paper

Sue Doughty: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings his officials have had with representatives of the energy efficiency industry during the preparation of the Energy White Paper.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	As part of the preparation of the Energy White Paper my officials have held a number of meetings and expert workshops with representatives of the energy efficiency industry. Industry representatives attended opening workshops in London, Glasgow and Newport, and a final integrative conference in London covering a range of energy issues. They also attended workshops devoted exclusively to energy efficiency issues. Details are posted on the DTI website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/developep/reports.shtml.
	The White Paper has also been an important theme in recent meetings between officials and industry bodies, for example the British Energy Efficiency Federation.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abattoirs

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of delays in her Department in payments to beef farmers in the South West who have prime organic cattle condemned as a result of the unavailability of abattoirs to slaughter under the Beef Assurance Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to payments for cattle that are slaughtered voluntarily under the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS). The Scheme is open to cattle that are prevented from entering the food chain because of the Over Thirty Month rule, but which are otherwise fit for human consumption.
	During the life of the scheme up to the 2002–03 year the published timeliness target in respect of OTMS has been to make 98 per cent. of compensation payments to collection centres within 21 days of receipt of all correctly completed documentation establishing the claim.
	The target has been changed to making 85 per cent. of compensation payments within 28 days and is consistent with the new targets for all non Integrated Administration and Control Schemes (IACS) payments. The RPA's 2002–03 Business Plan includes its new performance targets. There is no change to the requirement for collection centres to pass on compensation payments to producers within 14 days of receipt.
	The new timeliness target reflects the RPA's budget allocation for 2002–03. RPA has been given more headroom in its targets to allow it to respond flexibly to the situation and to deploy its resources by means of a risk based approach which seeks to maintain vital scheme controls.
	To help offset the impact of the tighter budget allocation RPA has introduced an initiative to import data electronically from collection centres. Most abattoirs are already submitting kill data electronically and work has started on introducing mechanisms by which data can be submitted electronically from both liveweight markets and casualty centres. This initiative will greatly reduce the manual inputting of data currently undertaken when claim paperwork reaches Reading and will, depending upon take-up, realise staff savings which will to some extent reduce the full impact of the budget cuts.
	RPA will continue to make payments as quickly as possible within its resource allocation. In the 2002–03 year to date 98 per cent. of payments have been made within 28 days.
	Regarding the unavailability of abattoirs to slaughter under the Beef Assurance Scheme, all licensed abattoirs are permitted to slaughter Beef Assurance Scheme over thirty month cattle, provided they are willing to facilitate their testing for BSE. On receipt of a negative test result, the carcase must be sent to a licensed cutting plant that is separately licensed to remove the vertebral column and dorsal root ganglia before the meat is released for human consumption. All licensed cutting plants are free to apply to the Food Standards Agency for an additional licence to remove vertebral column. It is a simple process, no fee is charged, and all have been encouraged to apply. None have done so in the south west peninsular.

Agricultural Protectionism

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has made to the European Union regarding reducing agricultural protectionism; and what research she has commissioned into the effects this may have on the United Kingdom economy.

Elliot Morley: We are committed to phasing out agricultural protectionism in the European Union. We seize every opportunity to make this clear to other member states, especially in the context of the current World Trade Organisation negotiations and the continuing discussions in the Agriculture Council on the mid-term review of the CAP. A recent estimate prepared for the Commission suggests that a 50 per cent. global cut in protectionism in agriculture could generate a welfare gain of up to $27 billion. The benefit for the EU as a whole was estimated at $17 billion.

CAP Reform

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards reforming the Common Agricultural Policy; what factors she estimates will influence further moves to reform; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Agriculture Council has completed its reading of the Commission's outline proposals which were tabled on 10 July. The Commission will now reflect on the discussions in Council and produce the detailed legal texts which will be necessary to translate their proposals into changes to the CAP regulations. We expect these to be put to the Council in late January.
	I expect further reform to be influenced by a wide range of factors including the need to improve the sustainability of European Agriculture and to take account of its impact on international trade and development particularly with a view to a successful conclusion to the WTO round negotiations. I also expect the negotiations to take account of the setting of a ceiling for Category 1A expenditure for the period from 2007 to 2013 at the Brussels Summit.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason she has not replied to the letter from the honourable Member for Yeovil, dated 23 October 2002, on the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I wrote to the hon. Member on 9 January explaining the actions to be taken as a result of a careful review of the issues he raised in his letter.

Environment Agency

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the forecast budget is for the Environment Agency in the south west for 2003–04.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency has set a budget for its south west region of #62.3 million for 2003/04.

Environmental Impacts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 20 November 2002, Official Report, columns 158–59W, if she will make a statement on the new integrated policy appraisal tools to ensure that environmental impacts are considered alongside social and economic impacts.

Michael Meacher: DEFRA's commitment to use integrated policy appraisal (IPA) was set out in the Department's Sustainable Development Strategy, XFoundations for our Future", published in June 2002. It is currently being piloted within DEFRA in a number of selected policy areas, and will be applied more widely in the coming year. The IPA provides a framework or template within which the economic, social and environmental impacts of policy options and their distributional effects in relation to different groups of people can be assessed. It allows decision-makers to:
	consider all the effects that a policy may have and identify which are potentially significant;
	highlight areas requiring more detailed or specialist guidance/further appraisal; and
	following any such guidance or appraisal, assemble evidence systematically to provide a summary of the impacts of a policy and the likely scale of the impacts.
	It is intended to contribute to the Government's goal of better policy making and to the achievement of sustainable development. The results of the pilot exercise in DEFRA, together with those being carried out in other Departments, will be shared across Government.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department received the Opinion of the Legal Service, Council of the European Union No.13585/02, Limite, JUR424 PECHE164, dated 29 October; and when this was passed to the (a) Scottish Fishermen's Federation and (b) National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations.

Elliot Morley: This document had been received in the Department on 1 November. I am not aware that it has been passed to either of the organisations referred to.

Fisheries

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK vessels are involved in scallop fishing; how many people work in scallop fishing in the UK; how many people are employed in the scallop processing industry in the UK; and what estimate she has made of the value of the scallop fishery industry to the UK economy.

Elliot Morley: Details from Fisheries Departments systems show that 471 UK vessels caught scallops in 2001. The landings of scallops by these vessels in 2001 were valued at #29.9 million, compared with the total value of landings by UK vessels of #574.4 million. With regards to the information requested on levels of employment, estimates of employment are not made at the level of detail required in order for answers to be provided.

Flower Imports

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what was the total (a) volume and (b) value of flowers imported into the UK from Kenya for each year since 1997; what discussions her Department has had relating to the involvement of UK companies in the import or production of flowers produced in Kenya using chemicals banned in the EU; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  What controls are placed on the import of flowers into the UK in relation to the use of (a) pesticides and (b) environmentally unsustainable practices; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 8 January 2003
	The total volume and value of imports of fresh cut flowers into the UK from Kenya since 1997 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Total tonnes Total #000 
		
		
			 1997 5,014 13,430 
			 1998 4,835 13,950 
			 1999 6,634 19,427 
			 2000 8,095 22,817 
			 2001 9,088 28,073 
			 2002(1) 7,893 25,093 
		
	
	(1) January to September
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	DEFRA has had no discussion so the use of chemicals in the production of flowers in Kenya.
	There are no controls on the import of flowers into the UK in relation to the use of pesticides or environmentally unsustainable practices, other than EU common quality standards which require that marketed cut flowers must be free of pesticide residues that affect the visual quality of the product.
	Imported produce is subject to checks for maximum residue levels, but these levels apply to consumable products and not to flowers.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much is outstanding in respect of payments for valuation fees during the foot and mouth outbreak in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

Elliot Morley: The amount outstanding in respect of payments for valuation fees during the foot and mouth outbreak in (a) Scotland is none and in (b) the UK is #9,970.
	There is a dispute between some valuers in Scotland and England over the basis of reimbursement. The claims in dispute are (a) Scotland #1,270,000 and (b) the UK #2,075,001. The UK figure is the total for Scotland and England. There are no outstanding payments or disputes in respect of valuation fees in Wales or Northern Ireland.

Hunting

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the hunts active across the Vale of York in part in upland areas will be allowed to continue under the proposed Bill.

Alun Michael: The proposal in the Hunting Bill is to establish a system for making case-by-case decisions on whether hunting activities may take place, to ensure that unnecessary suffering is prevented. An applicant would have to show that both the tests of utility and cruelty are met in the case of the particular hunting proposal. It will be for the registrar to be satisfied, on the basis of an objective assessment of the evidence—which would cover any local factors—provided by both the applicant and the animal welfare body, that the proposed hunting satisfied the two tests, namely, that it would be for one of the purposes set out in clause 8(1) and that the purpose cannot reasonably be achieved by a method that would cause less suffering.

Late Payments

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets exist for the Rural Payments Agency in respect of the deadlines within which payments must be made; and what (a) numbers and (b) amounts of payments have (i) been within the target and (ii) failed to meet it in the last 24 months.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency had two targets relating to the payment of valid claims within deadlines:
	1. To process and pay at least 96.14 per cent. of valid IACS claims by value within the EU deadline; and
	2. To process and pay 98 per cent. of valid non-IACS claims by volume within Ministerial deadlines and all claims within set EU deadlines or in their absence 60 days. For 2002 this percentage has been reduced to 85 per cent.
	
		
			 Target 1  
		
		
			  
			  
			 Value of 2001scheme year payments made within target (#) 1,056,435,921 
			 Made outside target (#) 146,908,512 
			 Number of 2001 scheme year claims made within target 223,401  
			 Number outside target 96,128 
		
	
	For the 2002 scheme year, no IACS targets have been missed so far.
	The payment window for SAPS opened on 16 October 2002 and closes on 31 March 2003. As at 16 December, a total of 26,843 (99.2 per cent.) of Premium and National Envelope top-up payments have been made, of which 97 per cent. were issued in the first few days of the opening of the payment window. In addition, 8,327 producers (98.3 per cent. of those qualifying for the Less Favoured Area Supplement) have now received the supplementary payment amounting to #13.6 million.
	The payment window for AAPS opened on the 16 November 2002. As at 15 December, of the 41,345 AAPS claims received for the main scheme payments (excluding rejected and withdrawn), 37,597 (90.93 per cent.) had been authorised and 36,746 claims (88.88 per cent.) had been paid, with a value of #757,549,518.00 (85.69 per cent. of the estimated total to be paid). The target date is set at 31 January 2003.Progress is being made on Bovine Payments but the deadline is 30 June 2003.
	
		
			 Target 2  
		
		
			  
			  
			 Value-of 2001–02 payments made within ministerial target (#) 375,411,587 
			 made inside 60-day target (#) 415,478,423 
			 Value of 2002–03 payments made within ministerial target (#) 300,944,770 
			 made inside 60-day target (#) 302,184,748 
			 Number of 2001–02 claims made within ministerial target 774,860 (85.23 per cent.)(2)  
			 number inside 60-day target 909,051 (99.99 per cent.) 
			 Number of 2002–03 claims made within ministerial target 641,563 (99.42 per cent.) 
			 number inside 60-day target 645,252 (99.99 per cent.)  
		
	
	(2) The targets were missed because of prioritisation of resources to FMD related schemes including Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme.

Licensing

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department knew that drinks and entertainment organisations were clients of MCM Research Ltd. when it was commissioned by her Department to advise on proposed changes in the arrangements for alcohol and entertainment licensing.

Alun Michael: The research MCM is carrying out on behalf of Defra is to assist with the provision of best practice guidance for addressing potential noise from pubs and clubs. It is not to comment on proposed changes in the arrangements for alcohol and entertainment licensing. The intention is to support local authorities and the licensing trade both when working under the current licensing rules and in implementing changes under the arrangements currently proposed within the Licensing Bill.
	All applicants to the competitive tender for this research project were asked to give details of their relevant experience in this area. A number of drinks and entertainment organisations have been clients of MCM Research Ltd. as a result of its specialisation in the application of social science to alcohol-related problems. MCM Research Ltd. was appointed partly as a result of their knowledge and experience of the licensed trade.
	This research will be made publicly available and is expected to be published in spring 2003.

Modulation Receipts

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish an analysis of how modulation receipts for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, (i) have been and (ii) are planned to be spent, showing the main categories of expenditure and the amounts of money spent on each such category.

Margaret Beckett: Payments in England from modulation receipts are as follows.
	
		
			 Scheme 2001–02 2002–03 (April to November 2002) 2002/03 (forecast total) 
			  #m #m #m 
		
		
			 Countryside stewardship 3.4 2.2 8.6 
			 Environmentally sensitive areas 1.3 3.5 7.6 
			 Organic farming 3.8 4.4 5.7 
			 Energy crops 0.1 0.03 0.1 
		
	
	Modulation receipts are used to fund new agri-environment agreements entered into since 1 January 2001; for every pound contributed through modulation, the Government provide a pound of additional finance through match funding so that double the figure raised goes back into farming. Expenditure funded from modulation will rise significantly from next year as existing agri-environment agreements come up for renewal at the end of their first ten year period.

Modulation Receipts

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total sum was of modulation receipts, in financial years (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 to date; what the expected sum is of such receipts for the full financial year 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Modulation was introduced in 2001 at 2.5 per cent. following wide consultation. The current rate of modulation is 3 per cent. and, under existing plans, this will rise progressively to 4.5 per cent. by 2005.
	Under the present system the Government match pound for pound the finance available through modulation so twice as much money goes back into farming. Modulation receipts and the Government's match-funding will increase funding for rural development under the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) by around #600 million over the seven years from 2000 to 2006.
	The total sums of modulation receipts in England are:
	
		# million 
		
			 2001–02 2002–03(3) 2002–03(4) 
		
		
			 27.3 30.0 40.6 
		
	
	(3) April to November 2002
	(4) Forecast total
	The Rural Development Regulation (Reg. 1257/99) enables member states to modulate CAP direct subsidy payments by up to 20 per cent. and to use the sums collected to co-finance new agri-environment agreements entered into since 1 January 2001. Sums collected in one year may be carried over to be used at any time in the following three years.
	Following the recommendations of the Curry Commission on the Future of Farming and Food the Government have also announced that an additional #75 million of domestic funding will be made available to introduce an entry-level agri-environment scheme, subject to successful pilots. EU co-financing will be made available either through an increase in modulation or as a result of wider changes to EU rural development funding.

Modulation Receipts

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of administering modulation in 2001–02; what the expected administrative cost is for 2003–04; if she will express those sums as a percentage of actual and expected modulation receipts; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The system for administering all CAP payments in England is fully automated. There are no significant additional administrative costs incurred in either collecting modulation receipts or in making payments using those receipts.
	The funds raised by modulation may be spent only on a limited range of rural development measures (in England, only new agri-environment agreements). Modulation receipts may not be used to cover the administrative costs of running the England Rural Development Programme.

Nappies

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has undertaken a life cycle analysis to compare the environmental impact of re-usable nappies and disposable nappies.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency is currently carrying out a life cycle analysis comparing the environmental impact of both types of nappies.
	It is expected that the work will be completed in the spring of this year.

National Park Authorities

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the grant for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 to each national park authority is; and what the percentage grant uplift to each park authority is.

Alun Michael: The information requested is provided in the following table. The differences in the percentage increase reflect a number of different pressures on individual National Park Authorities and on effort to achieve a fair distribution of the available resources:
	
		
			 Authority 2002–03 2003–04 Cash rise (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Broads 2,801,437 2,996,877 7.0 
			 Dartmoor 3,721,705 3,977,323 6.9 
			 Exmoor 3,059,765 3,318,950 8.5 
			 Lakes 5,460,856 5,907,102 8.2 
			 Northumberland 2,419,922 2,682,555 10.9 
			 North York Moors 4,224,936 4,477,842 6.0 
			 Peak District 6,721,617 7,161,069 6.5 
			 Yorkshire Dales (5)4,583,616 (5)5,037,283 9.9 
			 Total 32,993,854 35,559,000 7.8 
		
	
	(5) Includes #0.5 million for new accommodation. This was announced in a press notice on 28 November 2002.

National Parks

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to receive European Commission state aids approval for National Park farm schemes; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Further information was sent to the European Commission to assist their assessment of the National Park farm schemes' compatibility with state aid legislation in June 2002. The National Park farm schemes are being considered by the commission within regulatory requirements, and we will continue to work with the commission to gain approval for this scheme.

Pesticides

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's pesticides voluntary initiative.

Elliot Morley: The Government are committed to minimising the adverse environmental impact of pesticide use, consistent with adequate crop protection. A voluntary agreement on measures to reduce the environmental damage caused by pesticides was entered into by the industry and other stakeholders in April 2001. Provided the voluntary initiative is fully implemented, it should reduce the environmental impacts of pesticides and the Government remain committed to this approach. However, the Government are carrying out further work and analysis on a possible tax or other economic instrument, should the voluntary initiative fail to deliver its objectives within a reasonable timescale.

Public-private partnerships

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental minutes issued by her Department were outstanding on 30 November 2002, that referred to public-private partnerships, as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

Alun Michael: Defra had no minutes outstanding at 30 November 2002 that referred to public-private partnerships. The Department has two contracts for delivery of flood defences on public-private partnership terms: as these are operating within the contractual terms, they do not require the issue of a departmental minute.

Rabies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the Government's contingency plan for dealing with an outbreak of rabies in the United Kingdom; and what plans she has to review the contingency plan.

Margaret Beckett: The existing Rabies Contingency Plan is being updated to take account of lessons learned from our experience with foot and mouth disease. We intend to issue, in the spring of this year, a revised draft of the Plan, for consultation by stakeholders.

Rural Land Register

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the projected cost is of completing the rural land register.

Alun Michael: The projected cost of completing the rural land register is in the order of #5.5 million.

Rural Payments Agency

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many calls have been received by the Rural Payments Agency fraudline telephone number in each quarter since it was launched.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency Fraudline has received on average 205 calls each quarter from 16 October 2001 to 31 December 2002.

Rural Payments Agency

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the operating cost of the Rural Payments Agency fraudline since its launch.

Alun Michael: The operating costs of the Rural Payments Agency Fraudline from 16 October 2001 to 31 December 2002 was #1,035.29

Slaughter Premium

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims for slaughter premium were refused for the reason that they were received more than six months after sale or slaughter of the animal in each year since the scheme began.

Alun Michael: The following figures are provided for 2000 Under Thirty Months, 2001 Adult and Veal and 2002 Adult and Veal. The figures refer to animals for which claims were late and so that the applicant was not entitled to a payment.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 UTM  
			 2000 1,575 
			   
			 Adult  
			 2001 7,816 
			 2002 6,428 
			   
			 Veal  
			 2001 22 
			 2002 24

Slaughter Premium

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on the payment of slaughter premium in respect of stock slaughtered under (a) the foot and mouth cull and (b) the Livestock Welfare Disposal scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 7 January 2003
	FMD culled cattle did not meet the criteria for receipt of the Slaughter Premium subsidy. Eligibility for the subsidy for animals taken under the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme is a matter still under consideration.

Third-party Legal Action (Environmental Grounds)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to allow third parties to take court action against projects on environmental grounds; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 12 December 2002
	The existing standing provisions for judicial review allow the courts to determine whether or not a specific party should be heard. They have demonstrated that they are willing to give standing to non-governmental organisations and members of the public in appropriate environmental cases.
	In order to gain a fuller insight into NGOs views, DEFRA is funding a research project by Capacity Global entitled XAccess to Courts: Barriers and Opportunities for Environmental Justice". This will look at the experiences of NGOs and individuals. Results are expected to be available in spring 2003.

Translation Costs

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the cost incurred by her Department in providing translation of (a) forms and (b) publications for (i) Welsh and (ii) Gaelic speakers in the last 12 months.

Alun Michael: (i) The central Translation Section of Defra has spent the following amounts on translations of forms and publications into Welsh.
	
		
			 Financial year Forms (#) Publications (#) Total (#) 
		
		
			 2001–2002 486 4,715 5,2001  
			 2002–2003 (to 31.12.02) 8,719 11,198 19,917 
		
	
	(ii) The Translation Section has not provided any translations into Gaelic.

Warm Front Grants

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the take-up of Warm Front Grants has been from families receiving Disability Living Allowance;
	(2)  what the take-up of Warm Front Grants have been from families with a child under 16 receiving Disability Living Allowance.

Elliot Morley: To qualify for a grant under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, now marketed as the Warm Front Team, the householder or their spouse must be in receipt of a qualifying income or disability related benefit. Children under 16 in receipt of such benefits do not qualify for assistance through the scheme. Householders in receipt of the Disability Living Allowance are currently entitled to assistance up to the value of #1,500.
	Between June 2000 and September 2002, 99,175 households received assistance where the only qualifying benefit was Disability Living Allowance.

Water Framework Directive

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to revise the 1999 regulatory impact assessment of the water framework directive.

Margaret Beckett: A revised partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) will be included in a third consultation paper which is due to be published later this year. A RIA was published with the first consultation paper on the water framework directive in March 2001. Chapter 4 of the second consultation paper published in November 2002 provided information about carrying forward the RIA. This work is now underway.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Diego Garcia (Anti-personnel Landmines)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what jurisdiction the United Kingdom has in respect of the anti-personnel landmines being stored by the United States on Diego Garcia.

Mike O'Brien: I am assured that there are no stocks of anti-personnel landmines stored on Diego Garcia by the US or any other country.

EU Budget (Information Campaigns)

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 547, on the European Council (Copenhagen), what rules govern the distribution and expenditure of EU budget funds in information campaigns.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Funds are available from the EC Budget to provide general information on the implications of enlargement for candidate states. The Commission, assisted by a management committee of Member States' representatives, is responsible for distributing these funds under the EC Regulations giving assistance to candidate countries. Disbursement of EC Budget funds by the Commission is also subject to the rules and principles laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, and to external audit by the European Court of Auditors.

GDP Growth Estimates

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will identify the source of the GDP growth estimates given in his statement of 16 December, Official Report, columns 537–51, on the Copenhagen summit and enlargement of the EU.

Denis MacShane: The estimate of nearly #2 billion as the benefit to UK GDP from enlargement is taken from a study by Baldwin R E, J F Francois & Fortes R (1997) XThe costs and benefits of eastern enlargement: the impact on the EU and central Europe", Economic Policy, no 24, April 1997. The study estimates have been updated to 1999 GDP figures and prices. The estimate of a 1.5 percentage point boost to the GDP of the acceding countries is taken from a study by the European Commission (June 2001) 'Economic Impact of Enlargement' available at http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/enlargementpapers_en.htm.

Boundaries Commission (Bermuda)

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce an Order in Council to progress the work of the Boundaries Commission in Bermuda and to introduce an electoral system which conforms to the objective of one person, one vote; each vote of equal value; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Given the degree of consensus which has emerged on this matter, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is minded to recommend to Her Majesty in Council, in January 2003, an Order in Council to amend the Constitution of Bermuda to give legal effect to the Commission's recommendations to change the boundaries and the current 20 dual seat constituencies to 36 single seat constituencies. My noble friend, Baroness Amos, sent the text of the draft Order in Council to the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition in Bermuda on 25 November and to the Chairman of the FAC and interested peers on 29 November.

Constitutional Treaty of European Union

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the content of the draft Constitutional Treaty of European Union prepared by Professor Alan Dashwood.

Denis MacShane: The Government commissioned Professor Alan Dashwood, a constitutional expert, and his team at Cambridge to draft a constitutional text. Professor Dashwood retained editorial control throughout. We support many of his ideas, such as clearer dividing lines between EU and member state roles. The Prime Minister's speech CA clear course for Europe' of 28 November 2002, which can be accessed on the website www.number-10.gov.uk, sets out the Government's position.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's aspirations for the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: The Government believe the Convention on the Future of Europe is an important opportunity to consider how to make the European Union more effective and efficient. We want a Union that is better organised, more accessible, and better able to deliver real and practical benefits to citizens.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the principle of loyal co-operation proposed for inclusion in the conclusions of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: The draft Constitutional Treaty of the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe makes provision for a phrase setting out 'the obligation of loyal co-operation of Member States vis-a-vis the Union'. The principle exists in the present Treaties (Article 10 of the Treaty on European Community and Article 11(2) the Treaty on European Union). The Government support this principle.

Dame Shirley Porter

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the attendance by Dame Shirley Porter at a function held by the British Embassy in Israel; and what instructions have been given, and on what date, by his Department in respect of contact with, and the provision of hospitality to, Dame Shirley Porter.

Mike O'Brien: Dame Shirley Porter accompanied her husband, Sir Leslie Porter, the Chancellor of Tel Aviv University, to a dinner at the British Embassy in honour of the Weizmann Institute Foundation on 10 November 2002. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not issued instructions about contact with Dame Shirley Porter.

Goa (Terrorist Attack)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the warning issued by the Israeli Government concerning a possible terrorist attack on Goa in the New Year; what intelligence reports his Department have received concerning the threat posed by terrorism to British citizens in Goa during 2002; what changes his Department has made to travel advice on Goa in 2002; what steps his Department plans to take to warn British citizens about reports of terrorists targeting Goa; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: holding answer 7 January 2003
	We have received no specific threat to British or other foreign interests in Goa in recent months. The FCO travel advice for India, including Goa, was last changed on 13 December to indicate that India is one of a number of countries where there is an increased risk from global terrorism. The British Government are in close touch with other governments, including the Israeli Government, about terrorist threats. Our travel advice for those planning to visit India, including Goa, highlights the global risk of terrorism, including in areas visited by tourists.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Area Cost Adjustment

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister why Worcestershire local authorities are not eligible for area cost adjustment.

Christopher Leslie: The area cost adjustment is based on evidence about average wages in each area of the country, adjusted so that like for like comparisons are made. Areas with a relative wage above a particular threshold are those that receive the area cost adjustment. Wages in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area are below this threshold. A full methodology guide to the area cost adjustment is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Best Value

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the Best Value Code of Practice.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have consulted on a code of practice and new statutory guidance which will ensure that all local authority service contracting takes proper account of the need for a high quality work force in order to deliver high quality services. We have considered the responses and intend to publish the code and guidance very shortly.

Environmental Protective and Cultural Services

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of each local authority, how much money was distributed and is planned to be distributed through the environmental protective and cultural services standard spending assessment for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2003–04; what the total sum distributed via EPCS SSA was for each year; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: A table showing the EPCS SSA for the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03 and the provisional 2003–04 EPCS FSS by authority has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The EPCS SSAs provided are not suitable for comparison purposes between years. Some of the major differences between years are as follows:
	The last tranche of local government reorganisation occurred on 1 April 1998; this created a further 19 unitary authorities;
	In 1997–98 the XOther Interest Receipts" SSA was included in the EPCS SSA; from 1998–99 onwards the XOther Interest Receipts" SSA was included in the Capital Financing SSA;
	The Greater London Authority came into being in 2000. Prior to this the policing in the capital was provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, while the fire service was provided by the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority;
	The Metropolitan Police Authority was subject to boundary changes in 2000. Before this certain areas of Essex, Surrey and Hertfordshire were policed by the Metropolitan Police Service;
	The Metropolitan Police Service provided Magistrates Courts and Probationary Services as well as School Crossing Patrols, for the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000;
	It is proposed that the GLA will cease to receive money for its EPCS services in 2003–04; instead these will be funded via the GLA General Grant.
	In 2003–04 SSAs were abolished and replaced with Formula Spending Shares (FSSs). The control totals for FSSs are much larger than those for SSAs as they have been increased to around the level of spending by all authorities in England for these services.
	The SSA and FSS amounts are not cash. Instead they are used in the distribution of formula grant to local authorities. SSAs/FSSs are not spending targets, authorities are free to set their own budgets subject to local spending priorities.

Fire Service (Radio Network)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) the Government and (b) contractors of the aborted regional fire service replacement radio budget;
	(2)  how many fire authorities made claims for compensation for the cost of abortive work undertaken in implementing the regional procurement strategy for a new radio system; what the total value of the claims was; and how much has been paid to each authority;
	(3)  if he will make it the policy of the Government to reimburse Dorset Fire Authority for costs and expenses incurred in its commitment to the South West Radio Project prior to the project being curtailed by the Government.

Nick Raynsford: No figures are available relating to the cost to Government or private sector companies of the fire service regional radio procurement strategy.
	44 fire authorities have written to the Office giving preliminary notification of their intention to claim for costs related to the adoption of the national radio strategy. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not expect to receive claims until March 2003.
	Framework guidance on making claims is to be issued by officials shortly. All claims will be considered on merit within the given guidelines. A copy of the Fire Service Circular will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

Flood Protection

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact the introduction of the new local government grant distribution formula will have on local authority budgets for flood defence and coastal protection.

Nick Raynsford: The provisional settlement included a small change in the formula used to provide resources through FSS (formerly SSA) for flood defence and coastal protection. Actual budgeting and expenditure remain matters for the authorities themselves.

Green Goddesses

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Green Goddess fire appliances there are; what is the age of the (a) oldest and (b) newest; and what plans he has to replace them.

Nick Raynsford: There are currently 1,027 Green Goddess appliances, including 116 for Scotland. They were all acquired in the mid-1950s. The Government have no current plans to replace the Green Goddesses but a substantial number of more modern appliances have been deployed for use by the military during the current dispute and we will be reviewing their effectiveness.

Housing (Private Rented Sector)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to (a) increase supply and (b) improve standards in the private rented sector, and to enable it to play a bigger role in meeting housing need.

Tony McNulty: The Government actively encourage a private rented sector that provides a decent standard of accommodation throughout. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will regulate where needed and the Housing Bill, to be published in draft shortly, will provide for the compulsory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation and the selective licensing of landlords in areas of low demand. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is consulting on tenancy deposits and is encouraging voluntary measures such as local accreditation schemes as well as streamlining Housing Benefit to improve delivery and to give tenants greater choice. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to consider the scope for measures that could make long-term investment in private rented housing a more attractive proposition.

Islington Community Groups

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has collated on Government expenditure in the last 12 months on Islington community groups based in buildings the Borough Council is proposing to sell; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Islington Community Groups

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation there has been with the Government Office for London by Islington Council on the proposed sale of buildings used by community organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There has been no consultation with the Government Office on the proposed sale of buildings used by community organisations.

Local Government (Performance Assessment)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the Audit Commission's comprehensive performance assessment of single tier and county councils; and what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the proportion of unitary authorities rated as excellent.

Nick Raynsford: The assessments were a matter for the Audit Commission. The methodology was widely consulted on with local government, the Local Government Association and other stakeholders. The judgments made for individual authorities drew a great deal of information from varied sources to form an overall view of authorities' services and their capacity to improve. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister considers the assessments provide a robust basis for our programme of improvement.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no assessment of the reasons for differences in average scores in different types of authority. The advice of the Audit Commission is that there is no strong evidence of systematic differences between classes of authority and the key message is that it is possible for authorities of all types and with widely varying circumstances to be excellent.

Local Government Finance

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the information used by his Department in deciding upon area cost adjustments in the provisional funding settlement for local Government in 2003–04.

Christopher Leslie: A full methodology guide to the area cost adjustment is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The guide explains how data from the New Earnings Survey is used to calculate the adjustment, and which areas of the country receive it.

Local Government Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is for each shire and metropolitan county and for the GLA of spending per head from all local government sources in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: The budgeted spending per head for each shire county area, metropolitan county area and the GLA in the year 2002–03 is in the following table:
	
		Revenue expenditure per head for each shire county area, metropolitan county area and the GLA area for 2002–03
		
			 Former county area(6) Revenue expenditure (# per head) 
		
		
			 Avon 1,211 
			 Bedfordshire 1,257 
			 Berkshire 1,020 
			 Buckinghamshire 998 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,089 
			 Cheshire 1,171 
			 Cleveland 1,479 
			 Cornwall 1,049 
			 Cumbria 1,241 
			 Derbyshire 1,183 
			 Devon 1,237 
			 Dorset 1,089 
			 Durham 1,278 
			 East Sussex 1,376 
			 Essex 1,182 
			 Gloucestershire 1,130 
			 Hampshire 1,153 
			 Hereford and Worcester 953 
			 Hertfordshire 1,184 
			 Humberside 1,313 
			 Isle of Wight 1,152 
			 Kent 1,259 
			 Lancashire 1,278 
			 Leicestershire 1,172 
			 Lincolnshire 1,132 
			 Norfolk 1,144 
			 Northamptonshire 1,132 
			 Northumberland 1,149 
			 North Yorkshire 1,123 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,243 
			 Oxfordshire 1,003 
			 Shropshire 1,012 
			 Somerset 990 
			 Staffordshire 1,131 
			 Suffolk 1,124 
			 Surrey 1,073 
			 Warwickshire 1,119 
			 West Sussex 986 
			 Wiltshire 1,085 
			   
			 Greater London 1,797 
			   
			 Greater Manchester 1,458 
			 Merseyside 1,613 
			 South Yorkshire 1,370 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,510 
			 West Midlands 1,476 
			 West Yorkshire 1,319 
		
	
	(6) Shire county areas are based on pre-reorganisation boundaries (1995–96 to 1998–99) and include shire districts, unitary authorities, police and fire authorities. Metropolitan areas include metropolitan districts, police, fire, transport and waste authorities. The Greater London area includes London boroughs, City of London, GLA, waste authorities and the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority.
	Source:
	2002–03 GFRA budget estimates and the mid- 2001 population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Local Government Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest estimate is of spending per head from all local government sources for each region in England in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: The budgeted spending per head for each region in England in the year 2002–03 is in the following table.
	
		Revenue expenditure per head in English regions for 2002–03
		
			 Government office Revenue expenditure (# per head) 
		
		
			 East Midlands 1,181 
			 East of England 1,165 
			 London 1,797 
			 North East 1,405 
			 North West 1,394 
			 South East 1,164 
			 South West 1,136 
			 West Midlands 1,292 
			 Yorkshire and the Number 1,301 
		
	
	Source:
	2002–03 GFRA budget estimates and the mld-2001 population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Population and Electorate (Size)

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate of each metropolitan district in England and each London borough;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate of each region in England;
	(3)  what his latest estimate is of (a) the population and (b) the electorate for each shire and metropolitan county and the GLA area in England.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter to George Howarth from John Pullinger, dated 13 January 2003:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the latest estimate of (a) the population and (b) the electorate for each shire and metropolitan county of the GLA area in England. I am also including responses to your two related questions requesting the population and the electorate for each metropolitan district in England and each London borough, and for each region in England. I am replying in the National Statisticians' absence. (90010, 90012, 90011).
	Attached are three tables which relate specifically to your three requests. These show the total population and the 18+ population estimated for mid-2001, and the 18+ population registered to vote as at 1 December 2001.
	Even though figures are shown in the tables for comparable age-ranges, it is still not easy to make direct comparisons between the population and the electorate data. For one thing, there is a difference in timing: the mid-year estimates relate to 30 June 2001 whereas electorate data are as at 1 December 2001. In addition, there are differences in population coverage. The mid-year estimates include foreign citizens resident here who are not eligible to vote and people who choose not to register. On the other hand, there are a number of reasons why the electorate data may be higher than the mid-year estimates. Students are entitled to register both at their home and their term-time addresses, and second homeowners may also register in two places. Citizens who are not resident due to working abroad may be registered as overseas voters. In addition, electoral registers may be inflated if it is some years before non-respondents to the annual electoral canvass are deleted from electoral registers.
	
		Table 1: 2001 population and electorate data for metropolitan and shire counties of England -- Thousands
		
			  Persons all ages(7) Persons 18+(7) Electorate 18+(8) 
		
		
			 Metropolitan counties 18,009.8 13,829.8 13,345.6 
			 Greater London 7,188.0 5,568.3 5,169.9 
			 Greater Manchester 2,482.8 1,890.6 1,903.1 
			 Merseyside 1,361.7 1,042.1 1,041.1 
			 South Yorkshire 1,266.5 981.0 953.9 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,076.3 839.9 823.0 
			 West Midlands 2,554.4 1,923.9 1,907.6 
			 West Yorkshire 2,080.2 1,584.0 1,547.1 
			 
			 Shire counties 22,990.7 17,904.4 17,692.8 
			 Bedfordshire 382.1 291.4 288.4 
			 Buckinghamshire 479.1 366.7 359.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 553.6 433.1 423.3 
			 Cheshire 674.2 524.8 520.9 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 502.1 397.0 389.5 
			 Cumbria 487.8 383.9 382.6 
			 Derbyshire 734.9 572.6 575.5 
			 Devon 705.6 561.4 554.3 
			 Dorset 391.5 312.2 311.7 
			 Durham 493.7 387.1 386.2 
			 East Sussex 493.1 388.6 381.4 
			 Essex 1,312.7 1,018.7 1,012.4 
			 Gloucestershire 565.0 439.9 434.8 
			 Hampshire 1,240.8 960.1 951.6 
			 Hertfordshire 1,034.9 794.9 777.6 
			 Kent 1,331.1 1,025.2 1,006.8 
			 Lancashire 1,135.8 873.7 868.9 
			 Leicestershire 610.3 476.1 470.7 
			 Lincolnshire 647.6 507.5 501.4 
			 Norfolk 797.9 634.8 625.2 
			 Northamptonshire 630.4 480.7 477.7 
			 Northumberland 307.4 241.5 241.8 
			 North Yorkshire 570.1 445.5 439.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 748.8 582.8 580.6 
			 Oxfordshire 605.9 472.9 460.0 
			 Shropshire 283.3 221.6 220.5 
			 Somerset 498.7 388.5 388.0 
			 Staffordshire 807.1 627.5 627.5 
			 Suffolk 669.4 520.3 512.3 
			 Surrey 1,059.5 828.6 804.1 
			 Warwickshire 506.2 395.4 388.8/ 
			 West Sussex 754.3 592.3 579.2 
			 Wiltshire 433.5 334.4 328.6 
			 Worcestershire 542.2 423.1 421.5 
		
	
	(7) Figures from the 2001 mid-year population estimates
	(8) Figures from the Register of Electors as at 1 December 2001
	Note:
	Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.
	Source:
	Population Estimates Unit, ONS
	
		Table 2: 2001 population and electorate data for districts in metropolitan counties and London boroughs -- Thousands
		
			  Persons all ages(9) Persons 18+(9) Electors 18+(10) 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester (metropolitan county) 2,482.8 1,890.6 1,903.1 
			 Bolton 261.3 197.5 203.9 
			 Bury 180.7 137.0 138.6 
			 Manchester 392.9 300.5 312.5 
			 Oldham 217.5 161.3 158.4 
			 Rochdale 205.2 152.6 152.3 
			 Salford 215.9 166.2 159.5 
			 Stockport 284.6 219.6 218.4 
			 Tameside 213.1 161.9 162.7 
			 Trafford 210.2 162.0 163.7 
			 Wigan 301.5 232.0 233.1 
			 Merseyside (metropolitan county) 1,361.7 1,042.1 1,041.1 
			 Knowsley 150.5 111.3 108.8 
			 Liverpool 439.2 338.5 337.1 
			 St. Helens 176.8 135.6 134.9 
			 Sefton 282.9 218.0 213.6 
			 Wirral 312.2 238.7 246.6 
			 South Yorkshire (metropolitan county) 1,266.5 981.0 953.9 
			 Barnsley 218.1 168.3 170.1 
			 Doncaster 286.9 219.4 215.1 
			 Rotherham 248.4 189.7 192.6 
			 Sheffield 513.1 403.6 376.1 
			 Tyne and Wear (metropolitan county) 1,076.3 839.9 823.0 
			 Gateshead 191.2 149.4 150.2 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 259.6 205.0 198.3 
			 North Tyneside 192.0 150.5 141.7 
			 South Tyneside 152.8 117.8 115.6 
			 Sunderland 280.8 217.2 217.2 
			 West Midlands (metropolitan county) 2,554.4 1,923.9 1,907.6 
			 Birmingham 976.4 719.6 714.3 
			 Coventry 300.7 229.2 221.8 
			 Dudley 305.1 236.8 236.5 
			 Sandwell 282.8 213.7 213.0 
			 Solihull 199.6 152.4 152.5 
			 Walsall 253.3 191.5 188.2 
			 Wolverhampton 236.4 180.7 181.3 
			 West Yorkshire (metropolitan county) 2,080.2 1,584.0 1,547.1 
			 Bradford 467.9 344.9 332.7 
			 Calderdale 192.4 146.4 145.8 
			 Kirklees 388.9 294.6 287.6 
			 Leeds 715.5 555.4 533.0 
			 Wakefield 315.4 242.7 248.1 
			 London Boroughs
			 Greater London 7,188.0 5,568.3 5,169.9 
			 City of London 7.2 6.5 5.7 
			 Barking and Dagenham 164.3 121.5 115.4 
			 Barnet 315.3 243.7 230.7 
			 Bexley 218.8 167.4 167.5 
			 Brent 263.8 204.8 179.5 
			 Bromley 296.2 230.5 225.8 
			 Camden 198.4 161.4 136.9 
			 Croydon 331.5 250.1 239.9 
			 Ealing 301.6 234.4 212.9 
			 Enfield 274.3 209.4 198.8 
			 Greenwich 215.2 163.1 155.1 
			 Hackney 203.4 150.6 130.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 165.5 135.2 114.0 
			 Haringey 216.8 167.0 148.4 
			 Harrow 208.0 160.5 157.5 
			 Havering 224.7 174.6 176.2 
			 Hillingdon 243.1 185.7 179.7 
			 Hounslow 212.7 163.4 158.3 
			 Islington 176.1 140.2 128.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 159.1 132.0 98.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 147.6 116.5 100.1 
			 Lambeth 266.8 210.2 194.1 
			 Lewisham 249.5 191.0 179.8 
			 Merton 188.3 147.7 133.3 
			 Newham 244.3 172.7 155.4 
			 Redbridge 239.3 182.0 178.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 172.8 137.1 129.0 
			 Southwark 245.4 190.5 170.6 
			 Sutton 180.2 138.1 131.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 196.6 146.4 138.2 
			 Waltham Forest 218.6 166.3 159.7 
			 Wandsworth 260.8 214.0 209.1 
			 Westminster 181.7 154.2 131.2 
		
	
	(9) Figures from the 2001 mid-year population estimates.
	(10) Figures from the Register of Electors as at 1 December 2001.
	Note:
	Figures may not add due to rounding.
	Source:
	Population Estimates Unit, ONS.
	
		Table 3: 2001 population and electorate data for Government office regions of England -- Thousands
		
			  Persons all ages(11) Persons 18+(11) Electors 18+(12) 
		
		
			  
			 North East 2,516.5 1,954.5 1,937.1 
			 North West 6,731.5 5,161.6 5,167.3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4,967.2 3,824.8 3,752.1 
			 East Midlands 4,175.1 3,233.2 3,185.5 
			 West Midlands 5,267.1 4,033.2 3,995.5 
			 East 5,394.9 4,179.6 4,118.7 
			 London 7,188.0 5,568.3 5,169.9 
			 South East 8,006.9 6,124.9 6,081.2 
			 South West 4,934.2 3,875.9 3,824.7 
		
	
	(11) Figures from the 2001 mid-year population estimates.
	(12) Figures from the Register of Electors as at 1 December 2001.
	Source:
	Population Estimates Unit, ONS.

Private-Public Partnerships

Alex Salmond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

Christopher Leslie: The office of the Deputy Prime Minister had no departmental minutes referring to public private partnerships in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts.

Room Areas

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the regulations prescribing the manner in which the floor area of a room is to be ascertained under section 326 (4) of the Housing Act 1985 were laid before Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Regulations governing the measurement of rooms were made in 1937 under that provision of the Housing Act 1935 which preceded section 326(4) of the Housing Act 1985. These regulations were revoked in 1990, and no alternative methods of measurement were specified.

Room Definitions

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition of the terms (a) living room, (b) sitting room and (c) lounge exists in legislation.

Tony McNulty: As regards Part X of the Housing Act 1985, which specifies the overcrowding standards, the term Xliving room" is used without definition to describe a room, other than a bedroom, that may be regarded as sleeping accommodation, subject to normal practice in the locality, for the purposes of determining whether a dwelling is overcrowded. The other terms mentioned by my hon. Friend are not used in Part X.

Room Spaces

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if kitchens and bathrooms with a floor space greater than 50 square feet are counted as rooms available to sleep in.

Tony McNulty: Under Part X of the Housing Act 1985, a room with a floor space of 50 square feet or more is considered to be available as sleeping accommodation if it is of a type normally used in the locality as a bedroom or as a living room.

Smoke Alarms

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Government has made of the costs and benefits of making the fitting of smoke alarms a statutory requirement for (a) domestic and (b) other property owners.

Christopher Leslie: The possibility of introducing a mandatory requirement on all households to install smoke alarms was considered by the Community Fire Safety Task Force whose 1997 report, XSafe as Houses", outlined a strategy on reducing fire deaths. The Government accepted their finding that, although such a proposal does have attractions, the enforcement difficulties were likely to be excessive. Instead, it advocated a far greater level of publicity and education to build upon the significant improvement on ownership levels which have already been achieved.
	The fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations in Approved Document B were amended in 1992, to include provision for mains wired, interconnected smoke alarms to be provided in all new dwellings, resulting in new homes being provided with smoke alarms since 1992. This provision was extended in 2000 when, following a regulatory impact assessment, it was considered to be good regulation for smoke alarms to also be provided where a loft conversion is undertaken in an existing dwelling. This move, together with our wider publicity and educational efforts, has helped to raise smoke alarm ownership levels in all households to 82 per cent.
	Premises that require a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and premises that are subject to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 can be required to have fire detection equipment where this is reasonable and necessary in relation to the risks to persons who use the premises. This was reflected when the Building Regulations and Approved Document B were further amended in 2000 to require new and materially altered premises to be fitted with appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire.
	The Government have also recently consulted on proposals to reform general fire safety law by means of a Regulatory Reform Order. These proposals would extend the risk based requirements of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations to most places, other than private dwellings, and would include provision of fire detection equipment where this is reasonable and necessary. The proposals will be subject to a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and this is currently being prepared.

Smoke Alarms

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government made of the number of homes (a) equipped and (b) not equipped with a working smoke alarm.

Nick Raynsford: Findings from the X2000 British Crime Survey" suggest that 77 per cent. of households in England and Wales were equipped with at least one smoke alarm. 23 per cent. of households were not equipped with a smoke alarm.
	Due to the nature of the question asked in the British Crime Survey, it is not possible to ascertain what proportion of households were equipped with a working alarm. However, evidence from the National Community Fire Safety Centre's annual Fire Safety Attitude and Behaviour Monitor suggests that in approximately 9 per cent. of households containing fitted smoke alarms at least one alarm has either been disconnected or has had the battery removed.

Social Services Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the formula for funding social services expenditure of local authorities reflects a 20 per cent. higher cost of elderly residential provision in those areas to be subject to the higher differential rate of payments under the Delayed Discharge (Compensation) Bill.

Nick Raynsford: The grant distribution formulae for social services have to be generally applicable across England. As such they are based primarily on broad indicators of population, deprivation and the area cost adjustment. Possible payments under the Delayed Discharge Bill would be calculated on a different basis. My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) has announced that there will be an additional #100 million provided to local government for each full year of the reimbursement scheme.

WALES

Bilingual Service

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the annual cost of his Department's bilingual service; and how many people used this service in the latest year for which information is available.

Peter Hain: My Department is committed to treating the Welsh and English languages on a basis of equality. It is not possible separately to identify the day-to-day running costs which arise from this.
	Most of our translation needs are met by the National Assembly's Translation Unit under the terms of a service level agreement. However, in 2001–02, #4,400 was spent on translation by outside contractors.
	No records are kept of the number of people who use Welsh in their dealings with us.

Demographics

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his latest estimates are of (a) the population and (b) the electorate in Wales.

Peter Hain: The figures requested are contained in the Digest of Welsh Statistics 2002, which is available on the National Assembly for Wales website (www.wales.gov.uk).
	(a) 2,903,200 (2001 mid-year estimate based on 2001 census).
	(b) Parliamentary electorate, 2,238,200.
	National Assembly and local government electorate, 2,245,400.

TRANSPORT

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list the community organisations, residents' associations and environmental groups which he, members of his ministerial team and officials have met with regard to the consultation on airport capacity in the South East up to 30 November;
	(2)  if he will list the organisations from the aviation industry which he and any member of his ministerial team and his officials have met with regard to the consultation on airport capacity in the South East up to 30 November.

David Jamieson: Since the launch of The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation, Ministers and officials have held a large number of meetings with a wide range of individuals and organisations. This has included representatives of environmental organisations, local authorities, business groups and the aviation industry.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament on 28 November that the consultation on airports capacity will be extended until we have consulted on proposals in respect of Gatwick. We will set out our plans for the remaining stage of the consultation process when we publish the further consultation paper early in 2003.

Alternative Fuels

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the road haulage industry and vehicle manufacturers regarding (a) the use of alternative fuels and (b) the development and use of lean, clean and low noise engines.

David Jamieson: Ministers meet regularly with representatives of the road haulage, motor and oil industries to discuss the development of clean fuels and technologies, both individually and through a number of high level committees. The Road Haulage Forum, for example, discusses progress in modernising the industry, including through the introduction of clean vehicle technologies. The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, which will be launched on 16 January 2003, will allow Ministers to work closely with all stakeholders to encourage the development and use of clean, low carbon vehicles and fuels.

Central Railways

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the SRA report on central railways to be published; and who will be responsible for publication.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 351W, to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley).

Central Railways

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the Strategic Rail Authority report on Central Railway; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 351W, to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley).

Diesel Technology

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives the Government have put in place to encourage (a) vehicle manufacturers and road haulage companies to cut emissions on existing diesel technology and (b) the wider use of alternative based vehicles.

David Jamieson: The Government have introduced a number of incentives to encourage the wider use of cleaner vehicles and fuels, and has published the XPowering Future Vehicles Strategy", which provides a framework for future fiscal and other incentives.
	All new vehicles have to meet minimum European emission standards that are set to become progressively tougher over time. This will ensure that all vehicles—including heavy diesel vehicles—become less polluting over time. In addition, my Department sponsors the CleanUp programme that provides grants towards the cost of fitting trucks—and other vehicles—with pollution reducing technologies such as particulate traps. In many cases, trucks fitting such devices can also benefit from lower Vehicle Excise Duty.
	More generally, the Government are encouraging the wider use of cleaner fuels and vehicles through:
	favourable fuel duty rates for cleaner fuels, including LPG, natural gas and biofuels;
	company car tax and vehicle excise duty regimes based on CO2 emissions, with discounts for alternatively fuelled vehicles; and
	grants through Transport Energy programmes towards the additional cost of purchasing cleaner vehicles such as electric, hybrid and gas vehicles.

Dismantled Railway Lines

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many feasibility studies the SRA commissioned in 2002 into the possible re-opening of dismantled railway lines; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) does not commission feasibility studies into the re-opening of dismantled railway lines. Parties who intend to make bids for Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) funding however, often carry out feasibility studies and three such bids have been received during 2002. Therefore, no specific studies into dismantled railway lines have been commissioned by the SRA in 2002.

Driving Licences

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests were received in the past 12 months to replace (a) photocard and (b) counterpart driving licences.

David Jamieson: The photocard and the paper counterpart together constitute the complete driving licence. DVLA expects to process some 680,000 applications for duplicate driving licences (i.e. where the licence has been lost, stolen or defaced) by the end of the current financial year. Figures are not available for which part of the licence has been lost but DVLA believes that most cases involve loss of the paper counterpart.

Driving Licences

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of the average costs incurred, per application, by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for providing (a) replacement photographic driving licences and (b) replacement counterpart driving licences in 2001–02.

David Jamieson: The average cost of replacement licences of all types, per application, in 2001–02 is estimated to be around #5.60. DVLA does not maintain a breakdown of transaction costs into the categories requested.

Freight

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government assistance has been given to UK freight transport since 1997.

David Jamieson: Government policy is to promote an efficient, safe, and sustainable UK freight industry across all modes; rail, road, air, sea and inland waterway. Since 1997 the Government have implemented a variety of fiscal and non-fiscal measures to support this policy.
	Detailed information in relation to all freight transport modes across the United Kingdom could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Investment

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional investment in travel by sea there is in his spending plans for 2003–04.

David Jamieson: None. The Department does not subsidise travel by sea.

London Underground (PPP)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much money has been spent by his Department on (a) consultants' fees and (b) lawyers' fees for the London Underground PPP;
	(2)  what has been the cost to his Department, and its predecessor Departments, of preparing the PPP for London Underground.

David Jamieson: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained when giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on 18 December 2002, the estimated cost to London Transport and to the Department of preparing for the PPP, including the costs being repaid to all bidders, is likely to total around #500 million.
	The PPP amounts to an unprecedented modernisation of the entire underground network over the next 30-years. The level of bid development costs reflects this and also the lengthy duration of the bidding process, which commenced in October 1999. Nonetheless, the level of bid costs represents only an extremely small proportion of the value of investment that will be delivered over the life of the contracts.
	It is normal practice for eligible bid costs to be recoverable under PFI contracts. In this instance, the amounts to be recovered have been verified through an independent review to ensure that the costs have been reasonably and properly occurred and were appropriate for a transaction of this nature.
	The Department has sought to keep its costs to a minimum by making joint use of London Transport's advisers, expenditure on which is regularly reported to Parliament, mostly recently on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 63W. As this made clear, London Transport's expenditure on external consultants, including legal advice, from 20 March 1998 (the date of the Government's announcement) to 30 September 2002, for work on the PPP and restructuring of London Underground, was #96.3 million. As a result of the delayed implementation of the PPP, London Transport currently estimate that the final amount should be between #103-#105 million, an increase of between #5–#7 million over its December 2001 forecast. Around #1.6 million of this increase arises from the Mayor's second unsuccessful legal challenge in July 2002. The court granted that these costs should be fully recovered from Transport for London.
	The Department has separately spent around #1.5 million on independent external advice where this has been appropriate.

Manchester Airport

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft transport movements there have been at Manchester Airport in each month since December 2001.

David Jamieson: The information is as follows:
	
		Air transport movements at Manchester airport
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 
			 December 11,750 
			   
			 2002  
			 January 12,804 
			 February 11,993 
			 March 13,260 
			 April 13,504 
			 May 15,791 
			 June 16,022 
			 July 17,070 
			 August 17,469 
			 September 17,123 
			 October 16,338 
			 November 13,495

Public Private Partnerships

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November, that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport had no departmental minutes outstanding on 30 November referring to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts.

Railway Investment

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the proposals received by the Strategic Rail Authority for investment in signalling, track improvement and platform lengthening in the areas served by (a) South-West Trains and (b) Island Line; and which are included in forthcoming investment programmes.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority announced a new approach to the South West Trains franchise on 6 November 2002. This involves a one-year extension to February 2004 and agreement of key principles with Stagecoach Holdings plc for a new franchise extending beyond then to 2007. The extension ensures the introduction of new trains and extra services but does not include infrastructure enhancements, which the Authority will develop separately. On 12 November 2002, the Authority announced that it had reached agreement with Stagecoach for the continued operation of the existing level of services on the Island Line until 2007. The Authority's Strategic Plan, the second edition of which is to be published shortly, will list investment priorities for the short and medium terms, as well as long-term goals for the network.

Shoreham Harbour

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Shoreham Port Authority about levying charges on fishing cargoes landed at Shoreham Harbour; what the standard levy rate is for fish cargoes landed at trust ports; and which trust ports levy cargo dues on fish landed at their wharfs in addition to charges levied against the vessels themselves.

David Jamieson: Fish landing dues are set by the harbour authority and are not a matter in which the Department has any locus. Therefore we hold no information about the level of dues set by individual authorities and have had no discussions with the Shoreham Port Authority regarding this matter.

Statutory Instruments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by his Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three sessions.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. Since then 22 statutory instruments subject to the negative resolution procedure for which that Department is responsible have come into force. In the same period five statutory instruments for which the Department is responsible have been the subject of a debate in standing committee on delegated legislation.

Vehicles (Pedestrians)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require the fronts of vehicles to be more pedestrian-friendly.

David Jamieson: We supported a proposal by the European Commission in 2001 for a negotiated agreement with the motor industry to design car fronts to reduce the injury to pedestrians in the event of an impact, beginning with new models in 2005. We are now awaiting a further proposal early this year from the Commission to provide a legislative framework for this agreement.

DEFENCE

Servicemen (Pension Rights)

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Department's estimate is of the cost of extending service pension rights to the second spouses of deceased servicemen who completed their period of service prior to 1976;
	(2)  how many representations he has received concerning his Department's policy of refusing to transfer pension rights to the second spouses of servicemen who completed their periods of service prior to 1976;
	(3)  what assumptions concerning survival rates of spouses are made by his Department when estimating the cost of financing the transfer of pension rights to spouses after the death of a serviceman.

Lewis Moonie: Post-retirement widow and widower pensions (PRWP) were introduced as a requirement of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. Provision was made in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) for the payment of pensions to widow(er)s of service pensioners who married (or remarried) after retirement, but this change benefited only the widows of those giving service on or after 6 April 1978, and the widowers of those giving service on or after 6 April 1989. Only service on or after those dates was taken into account when calculating the level of pension. Against this background, it would cost in the order of #50 million to extend PRWP's to all current and deferred AFPS pensioners. This would be a one-off cost.
	It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that discretionary changes to improve the benefits from public service pensions schemes should be implemented from a current date for future service only. There is no distinction between servicemen and public sector employees with regard to the fact that the PRWP only applies to those with service on or after 6 April 1978, or 6 April 1989. To extend the post-retirement marriage concession to survivors of members of all public service occupational schemes would cost between #300 million and #500 million.
	There is no requirement for the Ministry of Defence to hold data on the number of representations it has received on this issue and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The assessment of the costs of making the 1978 and 1989 changes retrospective was a broad actuarial estimate, carried out by the Government Actuary's Department. The assumptions used in making this assessment were derived from general UK population mortality statistics, supplemented by mortality experience analysis within the AFPS and other pension schemes. Detailed calculations have not been carried out due to the lack of readily available data. Full calculations could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Aircraft Carriers (Deployment)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of RN/RAF co-operation in joint deployments on UK aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The three United Kingdom Invincible class aircraft carriers are capable of supporting and operating a range of RN and RAF aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary wing. In addition, RAF Chinook helicopters, based on either HMS Ocean or any of the Invincible class aircraft carriers in the LPH role, have been provided by the Joint Helicopter Command to provide essential heavy-lift capability to amphibious operations.
	The concepts of operations covering the employment of these aircraft from sea are firmly established and have been proven during both exercises and real operations. Already long-standing, the strong co-operation and resolute interoperability between the RN and the RAF continues to develop as defence strategies evolve.

Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Report

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Public Record Office a copy of the report produced in 1961 by the chemical and biological defence establishment entitled, XThe change of size-spectrum of zinc cadmium sulphide particles with increasing distance of travel" (Porton Note 218).

Lewis Moonie: A copy of Porton Note No. 218, entitled XThe change of size spectrum of zinc cadmium sulphide particles with increasing distance of travel", has already been placed in the Public Record Office and can be found at WO 189/2388.

Colchester Garrison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many weapons have been reported as missing from the Colchester Garrison in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Lewis Moonie: In the last ten years a total of two complete weapons and part of another weapon have been reported missing or stolen from Colchester Garrison. In 1999 the Birkhampstead Cadet Force reported an SA80 Assault weapon missing. In 2001 part of a bolt for an SA80 Assault Rifle and a deactivated Lee Enfield rifle were reported missing.

Departmental Properties (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's properties in Scotland are awaiting disposal; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently 26 separate Ministry of Defence properties awaiting disposal as at 7 January 2003:
	Defence Estates (Scotland): Properties awaiting disposal/under offer
	Garelochhead, Station road
	Bower, Comms site (site 1)
	Helensburgh Ardencaple dev sites (4)
	RAF Machrihanish
	Perth, St. Leonards Bank (3 and 7)
	Edinburgh, TA Centre Dalmeny street
	Edinburgh, TA Centre Chesser crescent
	Coatbridge, TA Centre Quarry street
	Falkirk TA Centre Bog road
	Campbeltown, TA Centre
	Buchan Claymore Estate (26)-phase 1
	Helensburgh Churchill Estate (4)
	Ayr-Belmont Avenue/Chalmers road (3)
	Irvine, 31–66 Dundonald crescent
	Helensburgh (seven blocks) Smuggler's Way
	Forres MQs-Pilmuir Estate
	Forres—76, 78, 80 Pilmuir (3)
	Buchan-Invernettie (3) Monument close-phase 1
	Glasgow, Kentigern House car park
	Thurso, 40 Ormlie crescent
	Aberdeen, 4 and 6 Ashwood circle
	Glasgow, 133 and 135 Carmunnock road
	Giffnock, 27, 29 Wellfield avenue and 27 Clifton road
	Ardencaple-Office West King street
	Inverness, dev site-Raigmore avenue
	Leuchars-Earlshall land

Development Sites

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times since 1997 his Department has used confidentiality as a reason for not revealing details in connection with selling sites for development; what they were, and with which companies; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: There have been cases in the past when, on grounds of commercial confidentiality, the Ministry of Defence has withheld information relating to the disposal sale price. Since 1999 it has been departmental policy to require all purchasers of surplus MOD land and property to be told, in writing, that the final sale price will be made known to any party who, in the future, requests that information. However, bidders/purchasers may still refuse consent to the sale price being made public on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.
	Specific details of the cases for which such information has been withheld are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HMS Ark Royal

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the capability of HMS Ark Royal to perform the functions of a Commando carrier.

Adam Ingram: Maritime forces are inherently flexible and although not her primary role the Carrier Vertical Strike (CVS) can be operated successfully as a Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH). HMS Illustrious demonstrated this when, during operations in Afghanistan, she reconfigured from her role as CVS to that of LPH while at sea on deployment in the Gulf. Her primary role while configured as an LPH was to support joint and combined war fighting operations and to provide a platform for the rapid deployment of elements of Landing Forces by helicopter. HMS Ark Royal is fully capable of performing this task.

HMS Nottingham

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the transportation of HMS Nottingham is expected to cost; and when the board of inquiry report into the incident which caused the damage is to be published.

Adam Ingram: The cost of transporting HMS Nottingham from Australia to the United Kingdom on a Heavy Lift Ship is expected to be about #3 million.
	There are no plans to publish the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report into the incident in which HMS Nottingham was damaged. A BOI is an internal fact-finding investigation into the circumstances surrounding a particular incident, undertaken by the Services for internal use. Boards are convened to discover whether there were any procedural or other Service-related irregularities, or difficulties which could be identified and overcome. The main purpose is to establish the facts concerning an incident as quickly as possible and to make recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence. The principle of confidentiality applied to BOI proceedings is designed to encourage witnesses to provide forthright evidence.

HMS Sheffield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formal complaints he has received since April 2002 concerning the handling of the sailors' evidence on the loss of HMS Sheffield in May 1982; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: A total of eight letters were received during April and May 2002 from MPs relaying concerns raised by their constituents relating to the conduct of the Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMS Sheffield during the Falklands Campaign. As I stated at that time, I am satisfied that the Board of Inquiry was conducted in a professional and proper manner and that no useful purpose would be served by reopening the inquiry.

Honours

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects an outcome to the meeting of the sub-committee of the Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals, chaired by General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank on 22 November, regarding the case for a general service medal for Suez veterans.

Lewis Moonie: The report submitted by the sub-committee chaired by Lord Guthrie to the HD Committee will be considered by them before making a recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen. HD Committee's conclusions will be published in due course.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British (a) special forces and (b) other military personnel (i) are and (ii) were in 2002 (A) involved in operations and (B) present on the ground within the borders of Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: It is the longstanding policy of successive governments never to comment on the activities of special forces. I am therefore withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	Regarding conventional forces, there are and have been no military forces deployed on ground operations within Iraqi borders either currently or at any time in 2002. There are, however, 11 United Kingdom military personnel currently deployed with the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)), the headquarters of which is situated just inside Iraq's borders, within the UN Demilitarised Zone.

JSF Aircraft

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the progress of the JSF development programme and the likely date of availability of JSF aircraft for the future aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme has been moving forward successfully since the development contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in October 2001. United Kingdom companies have already secured significant roles in JSF as a result of their outstanding technology and ability to deliver value for money.
	It is planned that deliveries of the UK's JSF aircraft will begin in late 2009, in preparation for their entry into service in the CVF in 2012.

Land Transference

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of the land transferred to QinetiQ at (a) Farnborough, (b) Fort Halstead, (c) Chertsey, (d) Funtington and (e) Malvern; what assessment he has made of the potential for housing and other developments on these sites; and what clawback arrangements there are in the event of substantial increases in value for the properties transferred.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 17 December 2002
	In line with normal business practice, QinetiQ and its predecessor the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) frequently reviewed its estate in order to ensure that it was making efficient use of its property portfolio. Because a number of sites have already been scheduled for disposal, the value of the individual sites is commercially sensitive, and therefore specific details of the information requested are being withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to commercial confidences.
	The majority of properties were transferred to QinetiQ on the basis of their value as part of the on-going business and in most cases the value of the property as part of the business was higher than would be achieved through a sale of the land on the open market. These values were assessed by external valuers immediately before the properties were transferred to QinetiQ at vesting. The total value of the land and buildings transferred from the Ministry of Defence to QinetiQ in use in the continuing business was #342 million. Due to the specialist nature of QinetiQ's business the valuation is based on depreciated replacement cost, and this amount was #114 million greater than the open market value. This amount does not include surplus properties held for disposal which on transfer to QinetiQ in July 2001 had an open market value of #98 million, that was subsequently reduced by impairment of #20 million, as stated in the company's annual report 2002.
	The sale provisions contain clawback arrangements to ensure that the taxpayer receives a suitable share of any unanticipated or excess profits arising from land disposals.

MOD Contracts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure MOD contracts have at least 50 per cent. UK build content.

Adam Ingram: It is the Government's policy to provide the armed forces with the equipment which they require at the best value for money for the taxpayer. Contracts are negotiated on an individual basis and there is no policy requirement for a particular percentage of work to be undertaken in the United Kingdom. However, as stated in our new defence industrial policy published on 14 October 2002, the benefit to the UK economy from Ministry of Defence contracts is taken into account when selecting contractors. A copy of the Government's defence industrial policy is in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Weapons

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.

Adam Ingram: Britain has repeatedly made it clear that we will not use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear weapon state not in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, unless it attacks us, our allies or a state to which we have a security commitment, in association or alliance with a nuclear weapon state.
	We would contemplate the use of nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence. We would not use our weapons, whether conventional or nuclear, contrary to international law.
	The Government continue to believe that there is no benefit to be gained from speculation about hypothetical scenarios involving the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

Overseas Forces (Decoding Cards)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish a decoding card for those serving in the Armed Forces overseas with a digital box so that they can receive BFBS radio and television; and what evaluation has been made as to the merits of providing these services.

Lewis Moonie: Use of a decoding card in conjunction with a suitable set-top box would not in itself enable reception of British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) television and radio services as it is necessary to have an appropriately sized and correctly aligned satellite receiver dish in addition. The size and alignment of these dishes would not be the same as for those used by other broadcasters in the United Kingdom, e.g. BSkyB.
	Until recently all BFBS transmissions utilised low power satellites requiring large receiver dishes (of up to 4 metres diameter) not suitable for Direct-to-Home (DTK) down linking. This has meant that local transmission and reception has been via conventional terrestrial broadcasts requiring approval by the host nation and allocation of suitable frequencies.
	However, since December 2001 BFBS has used satellite capacity on Eutelsat W3 which enables radio and television broadcasts to be received on dishes no larger than 1.2 metres. As a result, it will become possible to dispense with local terrestrial transmission systems and move to DTH. Plans to do this in Germany are being finalised as part of the requirement to switch to digital broadcasting in that country and it is probable that other locations will follow in due course, dependent upon affordability.
	To protect programme rights holders, BFBS is introducing fully encrypted television services throughout the area covered by the Eutelsat W3. To date the Balkans and the Middle East are fully encrypted and proposals are being prepared to extend this to all other locations. The encryption service is delivered either via set top boxes (to single televisions) or via secure cable installations (again via decoders). Access at each set or cable head-end is controlled by digital cards.
	The BFBS radio channels can also be received via the set top boxes but in order to provide a Ml service e.g. in workshops, cars etc., radio is normally delivered via local terrestrial transmitters in the overseas Commands and operational theatres.

Overseas Service

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the places where British troops are serving abroad and whether they can (a) receive radio and (b) obtain newspapers; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Information on the location of British forces serving abroad can be found in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 6, XGlobal Location of Service Personnel", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. This is published quarterly, the latest edition is as at 1 October 2002.
	Availability of British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) radio and/or television broadcasts depends upon a number of factors including host nation acceptance (including the provision of suitable broadcast frequencies where necessary), practicality and affordability; and is currently available in the following locations:
	
		
			 Location TV Radio 
		
		
			 North West Europe 
			 Belgium No Yes 
			 Germany Yes Yes 
			 Netherlands No Yes 
			
			 Rest of World Garrisons/Units 
			 Ascension Island Yes Yes 
			 Belize Yes Yes 
			 Brunei No Yes 
			 Canada (BATUS) Yes(13) Yes 
			 Canada (Goose Bay) Yes No 
			 Cyprus Yes Yes 
			 Falkland Islands Yes Yes 
			 Gibraltar Yes Yes 
			 Italy (Naples) Yes No 
			
			 Deployed Operational Theatres 
			 Afghanistan Yes Yes 
			 Bosnia/Kosovo Yes Yes 
			 Greece (Sindos Camp) Yes No 
			 Kuwait Yes Yes 
			 Oman (Thumrait) Yes Yes 
			 Saudi Arabia Yes Yes 
			
			 Turkey Yes Yes 
			
			 HM Ships (13),(14)Yes (14)No 
		
	
	(13) Recorded VHS tapes
	(14) Some larger ships are able to receive live satellite TV/Radio, others can receive when in port. Trials are being conducted on the practicality of providing BFBS to other HM ships via the XSCOT" broadcast system.
	Newspapers are supplied to HM Forces under a contract with Higgs International Ltd. to the following overseas countries/locations.
	
		
			 Country Location 
		
		
			 Abu Dhabi — 
			 Afghanistan Kabul 
			 Belize — 
			 Bosnia Various 
			 Brunei — 
			 Canada Suffield; Wainwright; Ottawa; Goose Bay 
			 Croatia — 
			 Cyprus Akrotiri; Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos 
			 Falkland Islands — 
			 Germany Various 
			 Italy Naples and Valencia 
			 Kenya — 
			 Kosovo — 
			 Kuwait — 
			 Macedonia — 
			 Nepal — 
			 Norway Stavanger and Reitan 
			 Saudi Arabia Riyadh 
			 Sierra Leone — 
			 Turkey Incirlik 
			 USA Norfolk, Virginia 
		
	
	Most personnel serving abroad, be they in permanent garrisons, training unit or liaison/exchange posts etc. will receive a Local Overseas Allowance (LOA) which is a compensatory, non-taxable allowance encompassing a wide range of factors including the ability to access English language radio, television and newspapers.
	Personnel deployed away from their normal place of duty on operation or exercise, in excess of two months, are provided with an Operational Welfare Package (OWP). The key elements of the OWP include 20 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week, internet access, mail, newspapers, books and where practical the provision of BFBS television and radio.

Pension Benefits

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the educative measures his Department has taken to ensure (a) serving armed services personnel and (b) veterans are informed of the pension benefits veterans are entitled to.

Lewis Moonie: All Service personnel receive basic information about the benefits offered by the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) when they join the armed forces and further information, notably a statement of benefits accrued, when they leave. We also provide advice on the AFPS and the financial aspects of resettlement through briefings by specially mandated independent financial advisers. These presentations are not restricted to Service leavers; they are available to any member of the armed forces at any stage in his or her career. They are normally delivered at Regional Resettlement Centres, nine of which are in the United Kingdom, while the other is in Germany. Pensioners also receive an annual newsletter from Paymaster, the contractor responsible for paying their pensions, updating them on any changes that might affect them.
	The basic information material on the scheme had become out-dated and was not simply written. We have therefore been revising it and, in late autumn 2002, we issued to all serving members of the armed forces a pack containing a straightforward, easy-to-read new guide to the current AFPS and a short, pocket-sized summary which also gives the current pension code rates, details of additional booklets in the series and useful contacts. The general guide was tested with key ex-Service organisations and with representative Service personnel, and is now available on the MOD web and the internet. It will be issued to all new recruits when they commence their initial training. The pocket-sized brief will be updated and reissued annually, again on an individual basis, to incorporate each year's new pension code rates.
	Five supplementary booklets covering specialised pension topics were published at the same time; these are available to serving military personnel on request and can also be found on the internet and MOD intranet. Copies of the pack and the five booklets will shortly be placed in the Library of the House. A further three booklets are currently being written to complete the series; these are due to be published in late spring this year and will also be available electronically. This series of booklets has been publicised to ex-Service organisations, notably the Forces Pensions Society. However, they may not be relevant to all veterans, given the changes to pension benefits over time, and do not replace the information that will have been communicated to ex-Service personnel during their time in service and at the point when they left the armed forces.
	In addition to this general information on the Services' occupational pension schemes and the benefits they offer, specific information exercises are undertaken where changes take place affecting the entitlement of Service or ex-Service personnel. Examples of this include information on changes with respect to transfer rights between pension schemes, and on the introduction of Stakeholder pensions and pension-sharing on divorce.
	The War Pension Scheme is administered separately and, in addition to the AFPS, provides Service personnel with compensation for injury or illness attributable to service. We inform serving armed forces personnel of the provisions of the War Pension Scheme through their leaving-packs and, since the transfer of the Veterans Agency (VA) to the Ministry of Defence, the War Pensioners Welfare Service (WPWS) have attended resettlement events to give advice. In order to raise veterans' awareness of the War Pensions Scheme, we issue a range of information leaflets and posters to a variety of outlets such as post offices, regimental museums and GP surgeries. The VA works closely with ex-Service organisations and the War Pension Committees. In addition, the VA website contains comprehensive information and the WPWS holds advice days and surgeries using a mobile advice unit to reach more remote areas.

RAF Welford

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what long-term plans he has for the future use of RAF Welford.

Adam Ingram: RAF Welford will continue to be made available for the use of the United States Visiting Force. There are no plans to change the current mission of the base, which is that of a munition storage site.

RAF Welford

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to assess the risks from accidents involving vehicles carrying munitions to and from RAF Welford and other military bases.

Adam Ingram: All road movements are carried out in accordance with Ministry of Defence policy, which complies fully with national and international regulations. Formal assessments have been carried out by the MOD Explosives Storage and Transportation Committee on all types of munitions carried by road.

Recruitment Initiatives

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment initiatives for (a) the Royal Navy and (b) the Royal Marines.

Lewis Moonie: The Directorate of Naval Recruiting continually utilises various advertising mediums for promoting careers in the Naval Service, and has an on-going programme of recruiting initiatives. Current initiatives include: the London Ethnic Minorities Recruiting Strategy, which commenced in June 2002—a dedicated campaign based on ethnic minority recruiting success in previous years; a campaign to improve submarine recruiting by offering acquaint visits to submarine facilities, and the production of a dedicated submarine recruiting video; and a proposal to use an external response handling agency to deal with the handling of potential recruiting inquiries to improve efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, visits to ships and establishments by potential recruits are encouraged and exhibition trailers participate regularly in local and regional events.

RN Presentation Team

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the structure, role and programme of the RN Presentation Team.

Lewis Moonie: The role of the Royal Navy Presentation Team (RNPT) is to improve the public image, understanding and perception of the Royal Navy through the organisation and delivery of presentations to a wide cross-section of audiences around the United Kingdom.
	The team of nine personnel are all serving members of the RN or Royal Marines, led by Captain RNPT. They typically serve with the team for about two years. Four members comprise the road team, which delivers the presentations. Others are responsible for generating and directing the presentation events, while the remainder provide administrative support.
	The RNPT operates an annual programme of presentations commencing each September and ending in the following June. Between September 2002 and June 2003, the team aims to give over 90 presentations across the United Kingdom, including universities, and groups from industry and commerce. Presentations to school students aged 18 and under are given by a separate students presentation team.

Scientific Advisory Council Reports

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will deposit documents relating to the reports and papers of the Scientific Advisory Council in 1970 and 1971 into the WO 195 classmark at the Public Record Office; and for what reason these documents are not already deposited in accordance with the 30-year rule of the Public Records Act 1967.

Lewis Moonie: The Scientific Advisory Council was abolished on 1 April 1969 and was replaced by the Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC). There are therefore, no papers held for the Scientific Advisory Council for the years 1970 and 1971. Papers relating to DSAC covering the years 1970 and 1971 have been deposited in the Public Record Office under class DEFE 10, which covers major Committees.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for his Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Ministry of Defence published details of achievements against current PSA targets with its Expenditure Plans (Cm 5412) in July 2002 and details of progress against all outstanding PSA targets in its Performance Report 2001–02 (Cm 5661) in November 2002.

War Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans from (a) the Second World War and (b) conflicts since 1945 are claiming (i) a war disablement pension, (ii) an armed forces pension and (iii) a war pension.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not available in the format required and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Entitlement to War Pension and Armed Forces Pension is not dependant upon service during a war/conflict.
	As at 30 June 2002, there were 214,265 war pensions in payment in respect of veterans who have served since 1939, and there are currently 270,000 armed forces pensions in payment.

War Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is in regard to back-dating a claimant's war pension entitlements; and how many claims his Department received in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002 from (i) veterans of the Second World War and (ii) veterans of conflicts since 1945.

Lewis Moonie: The policy for commencing dates of war disablement pension (for ex-service personnel) is incorporated into Schedule 3 to the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 (Statutory Instrument 1983 No. 883).
	The normal rules are that a pension is commenced from the date of claim or application for review.
	Statistics on claims to back-dating of war pensions are not kept by the Veterans Agency.

TREASURY

Working Families Tax Credit

David Clelland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Gateshead are receiving working families tax credit; and what the average value of the credit is.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families with children receiving Working Families' or Disabled Person's Tax Credit in each local authority, and the average weekly values, appear in XWorking Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses". This is available on the Inland Revenue web site, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/wftc/wfdptc_geog.htm.

Working Families Tax Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipient families live in a household receiving Working Families' Tax Credit but not housing benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated that a little over one million families in Great Britain were in receipt of Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC) but not Housing Benefit (HB) at May 2001, the latest date for which such an estimate is currently available. This estimate is based on WFTC administrative data and an analysis of Department of Work and Pension's 1 per cent. sample of HB recipients; the latter is subject to sampling uncertainty.

Accounting Officers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which occasions since May he has been informed of a Minister issuing a direction to an accounting officer as set out in paragraphs 12–15 of the Treasury document, The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer; on which grounds the note of dissent was issued; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The circumstances in which an Accounting Officer should seek a direction from a Minister are set out in paragraphs 14–17 of the Treasury document The responsibilities of an Accounting Officer. The Treasury has not been informed of any directions issued by Ministers to Accounting Officers under this guidance, since the reply given by my predecessor (Andrew Smith) to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) on 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 253W and my own further reply to the hon. Member (Mr. Bacon) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1037W.

British Supplies

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent calculation he has made of the cost to public funds if (a) the Army, (b) the Education Service and (c) the NHS were required to purchase all supplies from exclusively British sources.

Paul Boateng: To purchase supplies from exclusively British sources could restrict the Government's procurement policy that all procurement decisions are taken on grounds of value for money and be contrary to international obligations. No such calculations have therefore been made.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers sent in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 19 December 2002
	A total of 2,440 departmental Christmas cards were purchased for Treasury Ministers at a total cost of #1,912.18. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. The Treasury Christmas card was produced by Card Aid which donates all profit to charity. A sample copy of the card will be placed in the Library of the House.

Contingent Liabilities

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total Government expenditure on contingent liabilities which came to fruition was in each year since 1992.

Paul Boateng: The information is not held centrally. When a contingent liability becomes an actual liability, the resulting expenditure is scored in both departmental accounts and national accounts.

Correspondence

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Christchurch will receive a response to his letter of 6 November to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury concerning correspondence from Mr. Hawksworth.

Ruth Kelly: I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 10 January saying that I hope to provide a full response soon and noting the reason for delay.

Departmental Expenditure (Newsprint)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure of his Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 228W.

Departmental Research

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list programmes of research being conducted by members of the countries and regions team within his Department.

Paul Boateng: The devolved countries and regions team does not have its own internal research programme. The Treasury more generally is involved in some external research on regional issues, partly funded by the evidence based policy fund.

Diversity

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the programme of activities aimed at raising awareness of diversity in his Department, as set out on page 38 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002; and how much the programme cost.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The Treasury initiated a programme to raise awareness of diversity among all staff in 2001. A number of events and seminars have been held. Diversity has also been incorporated into our management training courses, including induction, appraisal, recruitment and selection. Since January 2001, the Department has spent #96,000, partially funded through the Modernising Government Fund, on raising diversity awareness among Treasury staff.

Diversity Objectives

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the diversity objectives set by members of the Senior Civil Service within his Department, as set out on page 38 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002; to what extent these objectives have been met; and what measures have been put in place to monitor progress towards these objectives.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The Treasury is committed to improving the diversity of its staff and has diversity targets to improve the representations of women, people from a minority ethnic background people with disabilities at all management levels. To help the Department to make further progress in this area, members of the Senior Civil Service have been asked to set themselves a diversity objective. These are monitored through the Department's internal performance management system. Progress against our diversity objectives will be published in the Treasury's 2003 Departmental Report.

Euro

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the five tests will begin being conducted on UK entry to the euro; and who will conduct the five tests.

Ruth Kelly: The Government have said that they will complete an assessment of the five economic tests within two years of the start of this Parliament. The assessment will be a Government assessment and the work will be undertaken by the Treasury.

Euro

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of small and medium sized companies that have made preparations for UK membership of the Euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government has made no estimate of the proportion of small and medium sized companies that have made preparations for UK membership of the euro.

Finance Regulation and Industry Section

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the (a) activities and (b) purpose of the Finance Regulation and Industry Section of HM Treasury.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The purpose of the Finance Regulation and Industry Directorate is to lead the Treasury's work in:
	(i) increasing the productivity of the economy;
	(ii) securing a competitive, efficient and well regulated financial sector;
	(iii) ensuring financial sector stability.
	The Directorate's teams pursue a wide range of activities that contribute to these three key areas.
	(i) the enterprise and growth agenda—a programme of reforms aimed at the key drivers of productivity in the economy;
	(ii) the framework for competition and economic regulation of private sector monopolies;
	(iii) Public private partnerships and the private finance initiative;
	(iv) The UK and EU legislative framework for regulation in the financial sector, including the completion of the EU single capital market;
	(v) national and international systems for fighting financial crime, especially money laundering and terrorist financing; and
	(vi) reforms to increase efficiency, competitiveness and fairness in the financial sector and to reduce financial exclusion.

Financial Advice Network

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress since 6 November 2002 on a strategy for a national financial advice network and the extent to which (a) credit unions and (b) friendly societies can play a part in the process of providing advice to the financially excluded from.

Ruth Kelly: It is important that everyone should have access to appropriate financial education, information and generic advice to understand his or her options, as well as having access to regulated product specific advice where appropriate.
	We have noted the proposals for a new network to provide financial education, information and generic advice, with interest. Many organisations are already involved in the provision of those forms of help.
	I welcome the work the Financial Services Authority (the FSA) is undertaking to look at the feasibility of a new tool to help deliver consistent, high quality, interactive generic help for those who need it. We also welcome the work the FSA will be doing to develop a more general strategy for consumer education, information and advice. We understand they plan to consult on this in the summer of 2003.
	All financial services firms can support the provision of advice to the financially excluded.

Government Accounts

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reason government accounts have switched from gross domestic product of regions and nations of the UK to gross value added of regions and nations of the UK;
	(2)  what elements of UK GDP are classed as 'extra regio' and what proportion of the total of 'extra regio' GDP each comprises for the current financial year;
	(3)  whether a revised set of regional gross value added statistics for the period of 1989 to 1999 will be published.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter to John Pullinger from Alex Salmond, dated 13 January 2003:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions on estimates of regional gross value added (GVA). I am replying in his absence. (89428, 89388, 89390).
	Current estimates of Regional GVA were published in February 2001 for the period 1989 to 1999. A revised series was published on 21 November 2002, but was withdrawn on 10 December 2002, when errors were identified by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and issues raised as to the quality of the underlying data. The ONS plans to publish estimates for regional, sub-regional and local area GVA in the spring of 2003. This will follow an investigation and detailed analysis of the compilation systems and component data to ensure their quality.
	Under the European System of Accounts 95 (ESA95) the economic estimates that are defined as Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices are broadly equivalent to what has been historically known as GDP at factor cost. ONS has effected the change from GDP at factor cost to GVA at basic prices as part of implementation of ESA95, along with all other EU countries. GVA at basic prices includes the effects of taxes less subsidies on production, but excludes taxes and subsidies on products, which are included in GDP at market prices under ESA95.
	The GVA for extra-regio comprises that part of compensation of employees and of gross trading surplus which cannot be assigned to any particular region. This mainly relateds to (1) the extraction of oil and gas and (2) public administration and defence (armed forces overseas and embassies). 1998 is the latest year for which industry estimates showing this breakdown are available.
	For that year the total estimate for extra-regio was just under #12 billion, of which 92 per cent. related to the extraction of oil and gas and 8 per cent. to public administration and defence.

Government Documents

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what documents comparable to Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland are published for regions of the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Alex Salmond dated 13 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on what documents comparable to Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) are published for regions of the UK. I am replying in his absence.
	GERS is unique, and there are no directly comparable publications for the English regions, or for Wales and Northern Ireland. Comparable information on Wales used to be published by the Welsh Office, but this was last published in 1996 and related to the financial year 1993/94.
	There is, however, information published by the office for National Statistics (ONS) and other Government departments on Government expenditure and revenue within the regions of the UK that can provide a partial comparison on some aspects of the data for Scotland presented in GERS, as described below.
	HM Treasury published a comprehensive account of regional (NJTS1) Government expenditure in its annual publication Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (HM Treasury (2002)) or PESA. The estimates show identifiable Government expenditure by function of government for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the nine Government Office Regions of England. The PESA estimates do not cover Government revenue.
	On 31 October 2002, the ONS published experimental sub-national estimates of Government accounts for the calendar year 1998. The estimates show by region (NUTS1) where General Government output is produced, which regions and sub-regions have contributed to Government revenue and which regions and sub-regions have received Government expenditure. The ONS work, however, is not intended to give a complete picture of Government finances and certain aspects of revenue and expenditure are excluded from the analyses and hence the estimates are not directly comparable with GERS.
	Finally, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned a project to identify the flow of Public expenditure (UK and European) into the English regions (NUTS1) and the allocative mechanisms that underpin those flows. The project has close links with the PESA estimates and with the ONS Government accounts work, but is not looking at Government revenue. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2003.

Landfill Levy

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the calculations his Department has made concerning the value of the tax arising from the landfill levy that would have been forgone in 2002–03 if all the available tax credits had been claimed by landfill operators.

John Healey: Based on the predicted quantity of taxable waste going to landfill, the total tax liability of landfill operators in 2002–03 is estimated to be #675 million. Landfill operators can divert up to a maximum of 20 per cent. of this amount to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Therefore, if all available tax credits are claimed in 2002–03, then approximately #135 million of potential landfill tax revenue will be foregone.

Minimum Wage

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of increasing the minimum wage (a) in line with average earnings, (b) to #4.17 per hour, (c) to #4.87 per hour, (d) to #5.00 per hour and (e) to #5.30 per hour, on the cost of salaries of departmental employees (i) in total and (ii) for each nation of the United Kingdom in the next financial year.

Ruth Kelly: Increasing the minimum wage by (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) will have no impact on the cost of salaries for HM Treasury.

New Export System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received from trade associations and other business interests regarding the New Export System;
	(2)  what the target time period is for Customs and Excise to clear applications under the New Export System.

John Healey: Customs and Excise's New Export System (NES) went live at all Maritime and Inland locations (including Inland Clearance Depots) throughout the UK on 27 October 2002. NES is an electronic- based system, which enables exporters and agents to send their export declarations to Customs electronically. It replaces the current paper-based system, facilitates legitimate trade and helps combat VAT and Excise fraud.
	NES provides a number of tailored models and procedures to meet the needs of different trade sectors. It allows Customs to target their controls more effectively, minimise disruption to legitimate trade and reduce the time it takes to process an export declaration.
	In order to utilise NES simplified procedures exporters must apply to Customs for specific authorisation. This involves completion of a form, possibly a visit from a Customs Officer and, depending on the electronic transmission route chosen, registering to use the Government Gateway. Each application is considered on its merits; there is no specific time frame for completion of individual applications. Customs make every effort to complete their part of the procedure as swiftly as possible. Exporters who need to obtain a digital certificate from the Office of the e-Envoy (to enable Government Gateway access) may wait approximately 7 days for delivery of access data.
	The Paymaster General received one representation on NES from the British International Freight Association (BIFA) on 20 December 2001, to which the Financial Secretary replied on 24 January 2002. A series of Questions relating to the use and provision of digital certificates was laid and answered in October 2002.

Office of National Statistics

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budget of the Office of National Statistics was in each year from 1992.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 13 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on what the budget of the Office for National Statistics was in each year from 1992. I am replying in his absence. (89389)
	The requested information is shown in the attached table.
	
		Office for National Statistics Spending(15) -- # million
		
			 Financial year Expenditure(16) 
		
		
			 1992–93 97 
			 1993–94 90 
			 1994–95 93 
			 1995–96 103 
			 1996–97 110 
			 1997–98 95 
			 1998–99 102 
			 1999–2000 110 
			 2000–01 156 
			 2001–02 212 
			 2002–03(17) 163 
		
	
	(15) The Office for National Statistics was created as a Government Department and an Executive Agency on 1 April 1996 by merging the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). The figures for 1992–93 to 1995–96 reflect the combined outturn for CSO and OPCS.
	(16) Expenditure figures from 1998–99 are presented on a resource basis. Figures for earlier years are in cash terms. Figures from 1998–99 onwards include additional provision for planning, fieldwork and initial processing of the 2001 Census of Population in England and Wales.
	(17) Planned expenditure.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have informed his Department that they wish to (a) contract out of the state pension and (b) contract back in to the state additional pension in each three month period in the last three years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The information is only available for those individuals with Appropriate Personal Pensions (APP) and Stakeholder Pensions (SHP) for complete tax years. The table shows the number of APP and SHP applications and cancellations for complete tax years.
	
		Number of appropriate personal pension and stakeholder pension applications and cancellations received
		
			  Number of applications(18) Number of cancellations(18) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 116,600 77,600 
			 2000–01 143,300 20,000 
			 2001–02 207,000 53,000 
		
	
	(18) Rounded to the nearest hundred

Scorecard Approach

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the scorecard approach based on departmental information used by his Department to measure Spending Review 2000 PSA Target 4, as described on page 26 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the scorecard approach based on departmental information used by his Department to measure improvements to the quality and cost-effectiveness of public services, as set out on page 58 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002.

Paul Boateng: holding answers 7 January 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 21 June 2002, Official Report, column 586W.

SDA Target E1.2

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the action his Department has adopted to meet Spending Review 2000 SDA Target E1.2, as described on page 32 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The Treasury continues to make progress towards meeting its diversity targets. The Department has an action plan focused on achieving these targets and other diversity aspirations. Progress against our diversity targets will be published in the Treasury's 2003 Departmental Report.

Tobacco Products (Revenue)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total revenue from the sale of tobacco products was in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Total revenue from excise duty and estimated VAT receipts from tobacco for each of the last five years are below:
	
		
			  #million 
		
		
			 1997–98 10,106 
			 1998–99 9,977 
			 1999–2000 7,489 
			 2000–01 9,413 
			 2001–02 9,514

Unemployment (City of Chester)

Christine Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in the City of Chester in (a) May 1997 and (b) December 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Ms Christine Russell, dated 13 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding the number of people who were unemployed in the City of Chester in (a) May 1997 and (b) December 2002. I am replying in his absence. (90282)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from surveys following the international standard International Labour Organisation definition. However the survey sample size is too small to provide estimates for the City of Chester. ONS also compiles claimant count statistics which represent claimants of the Jobseeker's Allowance working age benefit.
	The claimant count in the City of Chester parliamentary constituency, not seasonally adjusted, stood at 2,062 in May 1997 and at 879 in November 2002. Figures for December 2002 will be released on 15th January 2003.

Waste Recycling

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the allocation of landfill tax credits was to waste recycling projects run by (a) local councils, (b) non-profit making charitable organisations and (c) industry in financial years (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

John Healey: Figures are not available in the form requested. In 2001, contributions of #34 million were made under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme to projects that encourage sustainable waste management, the development of products from waste or markets for recycled products through research, education or information dissemination. The figure for 2002 is estimated to be #37million. All projects are run by environmental bodies registered with ENTRUST, the scheme's regulator. All such bodies are not-for-profit, but not all are charities. They may not be controlled by landfill operators or local authorities, but very often work in partnership with them.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Commonwealth Games

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her criteria are for assessing the success of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Public Sector Funders and Manchester 2002 defined the following shared objectives in relation to the Games:
	To position the UK as a Centre of International Sport, and to demonstrate the UK's ability to host a major international sporting event. To view the games as one means of strengthening sports participation at all levels
	To strengthen the economic and social capacity of the City/Region, recognising the importance of capturing maximum benefits to justify the significant capital investment in facilities
	To advance policies for greater social inclusion, promotion of diversity, access to sport and volunteering
	To showcase Britain internationally and to raise the profile of the Commonwealth
	An assessment of how well these objectives were achieved was included in an independent 'lessons learned' report, jointly commissioned by my Department, Manchester City Council and Sport England in June 2002.
	The full published report can be viewed on the DCMS website at www.culture.gov.uk

Community Radio Station Licences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 39W, on community radio station licences, what organisations are involved in the pilot study of access radio stations, and at what cost; and whether non-returnable deposits are required for individuals applying for licences for community radio.

Kim Howells: The access radio pilot schemes licensed by the Radio Authority are:
	Angel Radio
	Awaz FM
	Bradford Community Broadcasting
	Cross Rhythms City Radio
	Desi Radio
	Radio Faza
	Forest of Dean Community Radio
	GTFM
	Manchester Community Radio Group (Radio Regen)
	New Style Radio
	Northern Visions Radio
	Resonance FM
	Shine FM
	Sound Radio
	Takeover Radio
	The costs incurred are a matter for the organisations involved.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 39W, explaining that no charge (whether through a deposit or a licence fee) is made for licensing the current access radio pilot experiment.

Community Radio Station Licences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she is encouraging (a) individuals and (b) organisations to apply for licences for community radio stations.

Kim Howells: It is up to individuals or organisations to apply direct to the Radio Authority for radio licences.

Community Sports Initiatives

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve access to community sports facilities for volunteer organisations and the local community; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The new opportunities for PE and sport programme is committing #581.25 million in England to support projects designed to bring about a step-change in the provision of sports facilities for young people and their community generally. The programme will ensure that new and modernised facilities for school and community use promote social inclusion through access to and use of sports and outdoor adventure facilities by all groups in society.

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer, ref 88451, on Green Ministers, how often the Green Ministers Committee has met since the Baroness Blackstone was appointed.

Kim Howells: The Green Ministers Committee has met four times.

Olympic Games

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on her policy on applying HM Treasury's Green Book assumptions, and the appropriate assumptions for inflation, when calculating the cost of staging the 2012 Olympic Games;
	(2)  what measurable financial return on public investment she seeks in assessing the viability of bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: The Government use the guidance and procedures issued by the Treasury in their Green Book, (Appraisal and evaluation in Central Government 1997), in assessing the value of bidding for and staging the 2012 Olympic Games. This analysis complements an estimate of the cash flow for future public expenditure planning, which allows for inflation, which we are also undertaking.

Sports Clubs-Schools Partnerships

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to encourage and support partnerships between sports clubs and schools; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We are encouraging clubs to forge strong links with schools and to build quality opportunities for young people that are safe, effective and child friendly through the PE, School Sport and Club Links project. Investment in child protection and club development (#10 million from 2004–05) and from the #60 million Community Club Facilities Fund will be used to encourage and support school-club links and junior provision.

Sports Coaching

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans she has to compile a directory of the coaches that will be available to schools and community groups; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to introduce career structures for coaching of sport; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We are investing #28 million from 2003–04 to implement recommendations of the Coaching Task Force for: a five-level national coaching certificate; ring-fenced resources to enable a step change in national governing bodies' coach education systems; a network of community-coach employment agencies to provide the local infrastructure to recruit, employ and deploy professional coaches in their area; a network of 45 coaching development officers deployed locally to assist in the strategic planning, implementation and management of coach development; and a major Come into Coaching recruitment drive to attract more people to enter coaching. These proposals will tackle the shortage of coaches, both professional and voluntary, and recognise coaching as a profession, with accredited qualifications and a career development structure.

Sports Facilities

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to (a) conduct a mapping exercise of local sports facilities, and (b) identify their usage and user profile; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We are in the process of planning a database that will include all significant sports facilities across England. It is intended that the databases will complement the Sport England Facilities Planning model and enable responsible organisations to make better informed decisions in planning the provision of sports facilities in the future.

Sports Fields

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the new guidance for local authorities for assessment of sports fields will be published.

Richard Caborn: New planning guidance (PPG17) and the accompanying notes for local authorities was published last year. The revised Playing Pitch Strategy, which up-dates the specific guidance on sports fields will be finalised by Sport England in the near future.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A-levels (Pupil Expenditure)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average amount spent on each pupil studying two A levels was in each of the last five years at (a) a further education college and (b) a school.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available in the form requested.
	(a) Full-time students attending Further Education Colleges do not generally undertake a programme of study comprising two A levels only.
	(b) No account is taken of the number of examinations an individual pupil is studying when deciding on the level of funding a school receives.

Beef Exports

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure full resumption of beef exports from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Resumption of beef exports from Northern Ireland have been possible from 30 September 2002 following changes in the rules of the date based export scheme, as a result of intensive lobbying of the EU Commission by the UK Government heavily supported by the devolved administrations. The changes mean that animals destined for the domestic market may be slaughtered in the same plant, provided they are time dedicated.
	Efforts are being made by Government to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of eligible animals for this scheme by encouraging farmers to fully comply with EU Regulations on cattle identification and movements.
	Officials are also in discussion with Northern Ireland meat processors to facilitate exports through the DBES. Four NI plants have declared an interest. However none have as yet provided sufficient detail of their ability to meet the scheme conditions to justify approval. Until the registration process is completed, exports cannot commence. New markets have to be found, but at present market conditions do not favour exports and, moreover, the GB market provides the best return. There is optimism however that limited exports to premium outlets will commence later in the year.

Bills (Late Payment)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Government policy with regard to the late payment of bills by large firms to other firms smaller than themselves.

Ian Pearson: Government policy on this issue is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.
	Current legislation extends to Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries in the EU to implement late payment legislation to help promote a culture of prompt payment. There has been a statutory right for interest for late payment for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) owed money by large firms or the public sector since 1 November 1998, when the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 came into force. Since 1 November 2000 SMEs have been able to charge each other statutory interest, as well as large businesses and the public sector, for the late payment of commercial debt.
	Amended late payment legislation came into force on 7 August 2002. The legislation fulfils the UK's obligations under European Directive 2000/35/EC on combating late payment in commercial transactions.

Bone Marrow Database

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to extend the National Bone Marrow database to Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The provision of tissue matched bone marrow is managed throughout the UK through the British Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The Blood Transfusion Service here, in conjunction with the local Tissue Typing Laboratory, is already a significant contributor to this Registry. There are approximately 7,000 local donors, of which around 50 have actually donated bone marrow.
	The Anthony Nolan Trust and the International Bone Marrow Register also hold bone marrow registers, and there is co-operation between all registers.

Departmental Underspends

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the extent of underspend in the Northern Ireland Departments; and what action has been taken to deal with this.

Ian Pearson: In his statement to the NI Assembly on 1 July 2002, the then Minister of Finance and Personnel set out details of the underspend for 2001–02, and his plans to address the issue in future years. The spending plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06, announced on 11 December 2002, build on the approach established at that time—full details are set out in Section 2 of the Budget Document (XBuilding on Progress: Budget 2003–06").
	Information on the extent of any underspend for 2002–03 will be available in late June 2003.

Donaghadee Harbour

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the ownership of Donaghadee Harbour.

Angela Smith: Under' the Donaghadee Harbour Act 1820, ownership of the Harbour is vested in the Donaghadee Harbour Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners currently consists of officials of the Department for Regional Development, together with a representative from the Department of Finance and Personnel. As the Department for Regional Development bears the cost of harbour maintenance and upkeep, consideration is currently being given to bringing forward legislation transferring ownership of the harbour to the Department.

Drivers (Drugs)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to tackle the problem of drivers driving while under the influence of drugs.

Angela Smith: The Department for the Environment for Northern Ireland, consistent with its policy of pursuing research-based solutions to identified problems, is monitoring ongoing research into drugs and driving in GB, and based on the findings of that research will consider if and when action in Northern Ireland is appropriate.
	In the meantime, the DOE, to create a more effective regime to control drugs and driving, intends to seek NIO agreement to the introduction of legislative powers to enable the police to undertake tests of co-ordination and, when suitable equipment is available, to require suspected drivers to provide samples for screening.
	The PSNI view is that drugs and driving is an emerging threat to road safety. Work is ongoing by the police to identify an appropriate roadside screening device for drugs, similar to the roadside screening device for alcohol, and to procure and introduce the equipment at the earliest possible time.

Employment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were (a) created and (b) lost in Northern Ireland in 2002.

Ian Pearson: An exact figure for the number of jobs created and lost in the period requested is not available. However, the most recent data from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) provides an estimate of the net change in employee jobs between September 2001 and September 2002. QES figures show that the net change in the employee job level in Northern Ireland during that period was +6,850 (+1.1 per cent.).
	Over the year to 31 December 2002, there were 4,354 redundancies in Northern Ireland confirmed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Government Expenditure Reports

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what comparable documents to Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland are published for Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: There is no direct Northern Ireland equivalent to the Scottish publication XGovernment Expenditure and Revenue". However, historical financial information is available from a number of sources.
	At an aggregated level, the Public Income and Expenditure Account provides a breakdown of the main sources of income, details of borrowing from the National Loans Fund and issues made to finance supply services.
	More detailed information on Northern Ireland spending by programme is available in the HMT document XPublic Expenditure Statistical Analysis", which provides details of identifiable and non-identifiable spending in each of the UK regions.

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on participation in higher education by students with parental homes in Northern Ireland, broken down by socio-economic class in each year since 1990.

Jane Kennedy: The data, obtained from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), do not include all institutions in Northern Ireland. As a consequence, approximately 20 per cent. of NI-domiciled students are not captured.
	The information for NI-domiciled accepted applicants to degree courses in the UK since 1993 is detailed in the table. Prior to the creation of UCAS in 1993, information on this basis was not available.
	
		
			  I II III IIIM IV V   
			 Social class Professional Intermediate Skilled: non-manual Skilled: manual Partly skilled Unskilled Not known Total 
		
		
			 1993–94 
			 Number 773 3,005 1,097 1,497 541 231 365 7,509 
			 Percentage 11 42 15 21 8 3   
			 1994–95 
			 Number 834 3,181 1,179 1,622 590 210 417 8,033 
			 Percentage 11 42 15 21 8 3   
			 1995–96 
			 Number 873 3,262 1,218 1,712 599 251 546 8,461 
			 Percentage 11 41 15 22 8 3   
			 1996–97 
			 Number 848 3,322 1,310 1,742 584 200 521 8,527 
			 Percentage 11 41 16 22 7 2   
			 1997–98 
			 Number 940 3,751 1,533 1,844 692 241 845 9,846 
			 Percentage 10 42 17 20 8 3   
			 1998–99 
			 Number 861 3,798 1,440 1,871 677 217 842 9,706 
			 Percentage 10 43 16 21 8 2   
			 1999–2000 
			 Number 926 3,755 1,480 1,856 722 234 903 9,876 
			 Percentage 10 42 16 21 8 3  
			 2000–01 
			 Number 964 3,871 1,676 1,939 725 242 955 10.372 
			 Percentage 10.2 41.1 17.8 20.6 7.7 2.6   
			 2001–02 
			 Number 1,034 4,108 1,709 2,099 734 253 1,171 11,108 
			 Percentage 10.4 41.3 17.2 21.1 7.4 2.5   
		
	
	While the overall number of NI-domiciled students has increased, the percentage of students from each socio-economic group has remained relatively constant. Over 30 per cent. of NI-domiciled students come from social class groups III, IV and V.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he proposes to take to reduce hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: A wide range of measures is being taken to tackle hospital waiting lists. These include the expansion of existing bed capacity, the development of protected elective facilities, the provision of additional in-patient procedures, the development of community provision as an alternative to hospital treatment and the validation and improved management of waiting lists. To support this action, #5.5 million has been allocated in the current year and the additional #17.4 million provided for acute services in next year's budget will also help to improve access to hospital services.

Housing Maintenance

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to ensure sustained investment in housing in Northern Ireland (a) to tackle disrepair and (b) to reduce unfitness in the residential sector.

Des Browne: I fully recognise the need for sustained investment in housing in Northern Ireland. I will continue to argue the strongest case possible for the resources necessary to tackle disrepair and reduce unfitness.
	Gross funding for housing has increased from #621 million in 2001–02 to #655 million in the current financial year, contributing to the maintenance and improvement of housing conditions, both in the public and private sectors. Included in the overall housing resources is some #43 million per annum allocated for grants to tackle unfitness in the private sector.

Industrial Rates Relief

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy not to remove industrial rates relief before electricity prices in Northern Ireland are more in line with those in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Ian Pearson: Arising out of the current Review of Rating Policy and as outlined in the recently published consultation report I have made a decision in principle to abolish industrial derating. What I am still considering is how best to achieve this without causing harm to business.
	There are two ways I intend to approach this. Firstly, by phasing out derating gradually and secondly by providing a hardship scheme to minimise adverse impacts on vulnerable firms or sectors.
	I do not think it would be right to use the tax base as a means of compensating for higher energy costs. Some sectors are affected much more than others and tariffs vary and are changing. We are looking at this whole area and it is my wish that the cost differential is brought down, well before the existing contracts expire.
	The intention is to publish a policy paper early in the new year on this issue which will set out clearly a limited number of options for implementing change.

Maternity Hospital (Belfast)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be made on the location of the new maternity hospital for Belfast.

Des Browne: I expect to be in a position to take a decision soon, after I have had an opportunity to consider the outcome of the current consultation process covering the trusts' proposals.

Ministerial Visits

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the purpose is of the planned visits by the hon. Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) to Scotland and Wales.

Angela Smith: The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question.
	On 4 December 2002, I announced the requirement for massive investment in Northern Ireland's water and sewerage services and the need to find a long-term and reliable funding source to meet this investment need. In December 2002, I undertook a study visit of the water industry in Scotland and in Wales, to learn more about how water and sewerage services are financed and delivered elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Water and sewerage services are delivered by a public corporation in Scotland, whereas these services are the responsibility of a not for profit trust in Wales. These services are funded by water charges in both regions.
	On 11 December 2002, my colleague Ian Pearson MP announced our intention to introduce self-financing arrangements for water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. This will mean that in the future Northern Ireland households will have to make a direct contribution for the water and sewerage services they receive. I want to ensure that these services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible, so that the charges paid by Northern Ireland consumers offer value for money. Consequently, I wish to reflect on the best features of the financial and structural arrangements adopted by the water industry in Scotland and Wales when developing proposals for the introduction of self-financing arrangements for water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.
	I am committed to full and inclusive consultation on all proposals for the reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

Navan Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to assist with the re-opening of the Navan Centre in Armagh.

Angela Smith: My officials have been exploring a range of options that might lead to the re-opening of the Navan Centre. In particular, they remain in close contact with both the current trustees and the representatives of a consortium that is interested in taking over the Centre. A business plan has been tabled, and this is at the centre of discussion.
	A number of difficult issues remain to be resolved, but we remain committed to working with these interested parties to see if it is possible to have the Navan Centre reopened.

New Schools (Funding)

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria he takes into account when distributing capital funding for the development of new schools in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The criteria for the allocation of capital funding for the development of new schools in Northern Ireland are based on educational need, prioritised as follows:
	the need to address substantial unmet demand for school places;
	replacement of sub-standard accommodation which is essential to effect rationalisation; and
	replacement of schools that suffer significantly from several serious accommodation inadequacies.
	An economic appraisal has to be completed for each school and an appropriate stage of planning needs to have been undertaken. Where relevant, a scheme must have an approved Development Proposal.

Official Forms

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make the body of official forms issued by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development more comprehensible to farmers.

Paul Murphy: Officials from the Department will be meeting with farming union representatives this month to discuss documentation and procedures relating to cattle identification and subsidy claims. The Department is also working towards simplifying application forms used for the programme for building sustainable prosperity and the PEACE II programme. In addition it is currently piloting on-line claims for sheep annual premium, with a view to making this facility more widely available and making subsidy applications more convenient and user-friendly
	Forms produced by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are broadly consistent with those used in other agriculture departments throughout the UK. One of the Department's main aims is to ensure that farmers are only being asked to provide information which is essential to meet statutory or other obligations and to facilitate processing. Forms normally contain contact details for anyone requiring assistance and are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are as user friendly as possible.

Post-primary Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library the data underlying the Review of Post Primary Education Household Survey.

Jane Kennedy: Data on the Review of Post-Primary Education Household Survey are set out in the Report on the Responses to Consultation. Additional analyses of responses by gender, age, type of school attended and level of social deprivation are available on the Department's website. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Post-primary Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reasons underlay the number of young people whose views were sought as part of the Review of Post Primary Education; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Young people constitute the current and future users of the education system and the multi-stranded consultation on the Burns Report provided an opportunity for them all to express their views. These were received through written submissions from young people, pupils at school, youth organisations, children's charities and representative bodies. The Department of Education also commissioned the Northern Ireland Youth Forum to undertake qualitative research into the views of 14–19 year olds through a series of focus groups broadly representative of the population. 200 young people were invited to 10 focus groups across Northern Ireland and 116 participated.
	In addition, Save the Children conducted independent research into the views of primary school children.

PPPs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November, that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

Ian Pearson: The coverage of Table B14, which contains details of departmental contingent liabilities, does not extend to the Northern Ireland Departments. In these cases the relevant information is produced as an appendix to the Public Income and Expenditure (PI&E) Account.
	The 2001–02 PI&E Account is due to be published in January 2003 and reflects the position at 31 March 2002. None of the contingent liabilities listed at that date are in relation to public private partnerships, nor have there been any contingent liabilities relating to public private partnerships declared since that date.

Saville Inquiry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public funding has been provided up to November to the legal representatives of the families appearing at the Saville Inquiry, broken down by each solicitor or barrister or firm of solicitors involved.

Des Browne: The payments made to the legal representatives appearing at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry on behalf of the families or the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) are set out in the following table. The figures include VAT, where that is paid, and in most cases, expenses as well as fees. The figures represent the position as at 30 November 2002. The Judicial Reviews on Barristers' and Solicitors' fees currently under consideration could affect the level of payments already made in respect of the period of work covered.
	
		
			  Payments made (#) Period covered (from) Period covered (to) 
		
		
			 Senior counsel representing the families(19) 
			 Lord Gifford 383,120 Oct-98 Jun-02 
			 Arthur Harvey 550,377 Jul-98 Jun-02 
			 Michael Lavery 278,754 Nov-00 Jun-02 
			 B.J. MacDonald(20) 261,187 Sept-98 May-02 
			 P.T. MacDonald(21) 65,800 Apr-98 Jun-99 
			 Michael Mansfield 296,875 Mar-99 Oct-01 
			 Elish McDermott 105,309 Mar-00 Jun-01 
			 Seamus Treacy(22) 307,301 Mar-98 Jun-01 
			 Eoin McGonigal 82,446 Oct-00 Jun-02 
			 Senior Counsel representing NICRA 
			 Sir Louis Blom-Cooper 227,879 Dec-00 Jun-02 
			 Junior counsel representing the families 
			 John Coyle 213,931 Sept-99 May-01 
			 Fiona Doherty 142,763 Oct-00 Sept-01 
			 Ciaran Harvey 222,904 Dec-00 June-02 
			 Richard Harvey 216,172 Oct-00 Dec-01 
			 Brian Kennedy 406,939 Jul-99 Jun-02 
			 Philip Magee(23) 83,175 June-98 Sept-00 
			 Kieran Mallon BL 408,606 Mar-99 May-02 
			 Brian McCartney 423,749 Oct-98 Apr-02 
			 Karen Quinlivian BL 135,150 Mar-99 May-02 
			 Patricia Smyth 286,386 Oct-98 Feb-02 
			 Michael Topolski(24) 139,940 Nov-00 Jun-01 
			 Mary McHugh 32,803 Feb-02 Apr-02 
			 Junior counsel representing NICRA 
			 Paddy O'Hanlon 101,106 Nov-00 Jan-01 
			 Solicitors representing the families(25) 
			 Barr & Co. 264,405 Feb-99 Jun-02 
			 Brendan Kearney & Co. 606,069 Jul-99 Jun-02 
			 Desmond Doherty & Co.(26) 659,249 Nov-98 Sept-02 
			 MacDermott & McGurk 648,351 Nov-98 Sept-02 
			 Madden & Finucane 5,173,370 Jan-98 Jul-02 
			 McCann & McCann 294,521 Oct-98 Sept-02 
			 McCartney & Casey 652,499 Nov-98 Sept-02 
			 Solicitors representing NICRA 
			 Francis Keenan 208,739 May-00 Jun-01 
		
	
	(19) In addition the following senior counsel have represented/are representing some of the families but have yet to submit fee claims: Kevin Finnegan, Declan Morgan and Reg Weir.
	(20) Left the case (as a junior) in September 2000 and rejoined the case (as a senior) in July 2001.
	(21) Left the case June 1999.
	(22) Having started as a junior in March 1998, became a senior counsel in September 2000.
	(23) Left the case in September 2000.
	(24) Left the case in June 2001.
	(25) Includes payments made in respect of witness statement-taking work.
	(26) Figure does not include fees for June 2002.

School Salaries

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the differential between the salaries of primary school principals and vice-principals.

Jane Kennedy: The Inquiry into teachers' pay and conditions of service completed its interim report on the salary differentials of principals and vice-principals at the end of November. Both sides of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Negotiating Committee (Schools) accepted the report at their meeting on 17 December, and the employers and my Department will now put in place the arrangements necessary for its implementation.

Social Housing

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional financial resources will be allocated to the provision of sufficient social housing units to meet housing demand in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: Funding of #66 million is being allocated in 2003–04 for the provision of social housing units in Northern Ireland. In addition to this some #24 million will be levered in by private finance through housing associations bringing the total budget to #90 million.
	The requirement for social housing units to meet housing demand is measured by an independently assessed Net Stock Model. This Net Stock Model is currently being reviewed as recommended in the recent Needs and Effectiveness Evaluation studies into housing in Northern Ireland.
	I will consider whatever additional financial resources may be necessary, when the results of the net stock model review have been received (early autumn 2003).

Springvale Campus Project

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the composition is of the group conducting the review of the Springvale campus project; what its terms of reference are; and when the review is expected to be completed.

Jane Kennedy: The Springvale Board, comprising members from the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, the University of Ulster and the West Belfast, Greater Shankill and North Belfast Partnership Boards, has agreed to conduct the Springvale review. The review's remit is to identify that the necessary external funding for the project remains in place, to define with clarity the way forward and to appraise any proposed alternative model with clear targets for completion. The Board has also be and regenerative dimensions of the original concept. It is expected to report by Easter 2003.
	The supplementary data have been placed in the Library.

Vocational Training

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding the Department of Employment and Learning is making available to vocational training for young adults with learning difficulties; which units are receiving this support; and how much they are receiving.

Jane Kennedy: Jobskills is the Department's primary vocational training programme, aimed mainly at 16 and 17 year old school leavers, but with provision for young people with a disability, including those with a learning difficulty, to enter the programme up to their 22nd birthday. The programme's Access strand offers bespoke training to entrants with learning difficulties, and provides enhanced duration and funding support and training periods of up to 156 weeks. Access trainees follow training toward approved qualifications up to and including National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 1.
	The Department provides additional funding to further education colleges for students with learning difficulties through the Additional Support Fund and weightings in the FE Funding Formula. A breakdown of funding between those students on vocational or non-vocational courses is not available.
	The Department's Disablement Advisory Service provides funding to organisations to provide vocational and pre-vocational training, as well as other services for people with learning disabilities of all ages. It is not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of how much will be provided towards vocational training specifically for young adults with learning difficulties. The estimated amounts to be paid to organisations providing vocational training, among other services, in the 2002–03 year are:
	
		
			  # 
		
		
			 Datalink 13,000 
			 Triangle 18,000 
			 Mencap 76,000 
			 The Orchardville Society 23,000 
			 Parkanaur College 250,000

Water Charges

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce direct water charges in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question, as I have responsibility for water and sewerage services.
	In his budget announcement on 11 December 2002, my colleague Ian Pearson MP stated our intention that Water Service become a self-financing organisation. In principle, this will involve the introduction of domestic water and sewerage charges for Northern Ireland households. Water Service's non-domestic customers already pay water charges.
	I am committed to full and inclusive consultation on our proposals for the reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

Wet Weather Payments

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with DEFRA regarding applications to the EU for wet weather payments; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: DEFRA has been made fully aware of the difficulties experienced by the Northern Ireland agricultural industry as a result of the unprecedented wet weather during a large part of the 2002 growing season. It has indicated that it will facilitate any approach to the EU Commission seeking state aid approval for a possible financial assistance package, assuming that there is sufficient evidence to support such a case and that the necessary resources can be identified from within the Northern Ireland Block.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Flexible Working Hours

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce a right to flexible working hours for employees with families; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: From 6 April 2003, parents with children under six, or disabled children under 18, will have the right to ask their employers for flexible working arrangements. Employers will have a statutory duty to consider these requests according to a set procedure. This includes confirming their decision in writing to the employee, and where the request cannot be accommodated, explaining the business reason and why it applies in the circumstances.
	Guidance to assist employers and employees to use this right is available on the DTI website and will be expanded later this month: www.dti.gov.uk/er. Individual advice will be provided by the Acas Helpline 08457 47 47 47, and DTI will be running an awareness raising campaign in the national press in the run up to 6 April.
	The Government are committed to providing working parents with more choice and support to help them balance work and child care in a way that benefits employers, employees and their children. The new right is part of a package of measures, including improvements to maternity pay and leave, the introduction of two weeks' paid paternity leave, and the introduction of paid adoption leave roughly equivalent to maternity provisions. These are in addition to existing rights to parental leave and time off for dependents.

Accreditation

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department is doing to support the Government's policy on accreditation.

Patricia Hewitt: Accreditation, as a means of providing assurance of the competence of certification, inspection, testing and calibration services, is a voluntary activity which none the less makes an important contribution to the competitiveness of UK businesses. In order to ensure that accreditation is authoritative and operates in the public interest, my Department, on behalf of Government as a whole, has established a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) which places a number of duties and obligations on both parties and gives recognition to UKAS as the sole national body for the accreditation, against recognised standards, of certification and inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories. My Department is responsible for ensuring that the duties and obligations set down in the MoU are met by both parties. We are also supporting an accreditation awareness campaign, being run by UKAS, aimed at raising the awareness in business and Government of the benefits of using UKAS accredited services.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on plans to establish a primate breeding facility at the military research centre at Porton Down, indicating (a) what the maximum number of monkeys held will be, (b) from where the original monkeys will be obtained, (c) what species of monkey will be bred there and (d) for what purposes these monkeys will be used;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the compatibility of the Government's policy of the Three Rs with the establishment of a primate breeding centre at Porton Down.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 8 January 2003
	The monkeys will be used to help scientists continue vital research into serious diseases and conditions including HIV, malaria, stroke, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. They will not be used for chemical and biological defence testing.
	The facility under construction at Porton Down is part of a continuing effort to improve further the care and welfare of laboratory animals across the academic sector. The project, a partnership involving the MRC, The Wellcome Trust, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, has been in the planning for almost three years.
	The new facility will replace an existing UK academic breeding facility for Rhesus Macaque monkeys. The colony is being relocated because the new facility at Porton Down will offer state of the art accommodation, care, and welfare in a secure setting. The aims of the facility are broadly two-fold:
	(i) to establish a centre of excellence and to provide an example of best contemporary practice for the care and welfare of monkeys; and
	(ii) to provide a supply of monkeys for justified medical research purposes.
	The facility is designed to house about 250 macaques. It is expected that this will be sufficient to supply approximately 100 animals for use in academic medical research each year. This does not represent an increase in the use of such monkeys in the UK university sector.
	Primates from the new breeding centre will only be used in scientific procedures licensed by the Home Office under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This means that the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) will be fully applied. Under the 1986 Act no animals can be used in scientific procedures if alternatives are available, and primates can only be used if no other species are suitable and readily obtainable. The number used and the suffering experienced must be minimised.
	The establishment of this new facility further promotes policy on the 3Rs in that:
	it will operate to the best contemporary practice for the care and welfare of monkeys and disseminate best practice accordingly. The facility will work closely with the MRC's Centre for Best Practice for Animals in Research to develop, promote and disseminate best practice in all aspects of primate care and welfare;
	careful planning to predict the numbers of animals required for academic medical research will ensure that potential for Xover-breeding" is avoided;
	co-operative dialogue between the research funders and the facility will ensure that only scientific projects of the highest quality that can fully justify the use of monkeys will be supplied from the facility.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to encourage the World Trade Organisation to allow countries to impose restrictions on the import of products that compromise animal welfare.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 8 January 2003
	Because trade is a matter of Community competence, the UK has been working with other EU member states to progress this issue for a number of years. Animal welfare issues have been included in the EU's WTO negotiating priorities for some years. At Doha, the EU successfully negotiated the Doha mandate so that the issue of farm animal welfare would be taken into account as part of the current Agreement on Agriculture negotiations, which are due to be concluded by the end of 2004.
	It remains extremely difficult to reach agreement on changes to WTO rules to allow countries explicitly to limit imports of goods based only on the way in which a product was made (under which would fall consideration of whether a production method took account of animal welfare standards). Many WTO member states are highly suspicious of the EU's motives and fear that animal welfare production standards will be used as a disguised form of protectionism. This is a concern for developing country governments in particular. This issue is not on the agenda for the current Doha trade round, but the EU continues to discuss this issue in all relevant WTO fora and is working hard to try to build trust and understanding for the EU's
	position.
	The recent Commission Communication (COM(2002) 626 final) on Animal Welfare Legislation of 18 November offers a useful overview of the Commission's approach to improving animal welfare issues internationally, including through the WTO.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government has to introduce a clearer labelling system to enable consumers to tell whether products have been tested on animals.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 January 2003
	I have no such plans. The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations already contain provisions allowing manufacturers who wish to label their products Xnot tested on animals" to do so. The recently agreed 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive requires the European Commission to bring forward new guidelines on animal testing labelling to make it easier for manufacturers to make honest claims about animal testing.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of cosmetics sold in the UK were tested on animals, in the last year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 January 2003
	This information is not held centrally.

British Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the solvency of (a) British Energy and (b) BNFL.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 8 January 2003
	British Energy has submitted a plan to Government for the solvent restructuring of the company. The Department and its financial advisers have assessed the implications and have decided to support it in allowing the company to attempt solvent restructuring.
	In respect of BNFL, it is for its Board to assess the Company's solvency. In doing so the company comply with relevant corporate governance and financial accounting requirements. This is independently reviewed by the company's auditors.
	BNFL reported a net asset deficit in 2002. However the company has significant cash resources which, coupled with the ongoing proposals relating to the management of the UK's civil nuclear liabilities, means that the company can continue to trade.
	BNFL's Directors confirmed that the company remains a going concern in their Corporate Governance Report included in the company's 2002 annual report and accounts.

British Energy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to protect British energy markets from state-aided competition.

Brian Wilson: Complaints about undertakings believed to be in receipt of unauthorised state aid should be directed to the European Commission for investigation.
	This Government's policy is to ensure rapid progress is made in developing a single EU energy market to the benefit of UK consumers and business. As is the case with other industries in this country, our policy is to ensure that all companies, regardless of ultimate ownership, are strictly regulated in the interests of the consumer and the environment. All utilities are subject to legal regulatory and environmental obligations and controls.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 19 December 2002
	It would not be possible to provide a detailed answer without incurring disproportionate cost, but any such expenditure would be for official purposes only, and would be in accordance with the Department's guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principals set out in Government Accounting.

Convention on the Future of Europe

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her reply of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 902W, which industry and user groups were consulted about the Convention on the Future of Europe; and in what terms.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Officials have been in contact with a broad range of copyright and other intellectual property rights interests to draw their attention to the work of the convention, particularly in relation to EU competence for intellectual property rights.

Departmental Running Costs

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) percentage and (b) amounts of savings on her Department's running costs have been achieved in each year since 1998; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Progress towards meeting with the Department's PSA target of annual savings of 2.5 per cent. of its administration costs has been published in its expenditure plans report since 2001.
	In 1999–2000 the Department achieved a saving of 2.6 per cent. (#10.6 million) on projected costs of #406.6 million including savings from the introduction of the ELGAR and MANDRIN IT systems, from case handling in ACAS and the ETS and from savings relating to staff costs, postage and stationery and the re-scheduling of international payments.
	In 2000–01 the Department achieved a saving of 4.6 per cent. of #19.3 million) on projected costs of #418.8 million including savings from better procurement procedures and from the development of IT systems.
	Data for 2001/2002 is currently being collated and the results will be set out in the 2003 expenditure plans report, due to be published in the spring of 2003

Employment Tribunals

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions in each of the last three years an employment tribunal has used its powers under Rule 14 of the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure (SI 2001/1171) to make an order for costs against a respondent who has acted vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably in conducting the proceedings; and how many of these orders have been for failure to disclose to an applicant documents as previously directed by the tribunal.

Alan Johnson: In the previous three financial years, the number of occasions where an employment tribunal has used its powers to make an order for costs against a respondent is recorded in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Number of cost awards 
		
		
			 2001–02 169 
			 2000–01 80 
			 1999–2000 61 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service
	The database of the Employment Tribunals Service does not distinguish between an award made against the respondent company/individual or their representative, nor does it record the reason for the award of costs being made

Export Credits

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications have been received by the Export Credit Guarantees Department relating to (a) mining projects and (b) logging operations in the last 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: During 2002 the Export Credits Guarantee Department has received two applications relating to mining projects and none for logging operations.
	One of the applications relates to the modernisation and improvement of existing underground coal mining operations in India and the second to a nickel refinery project in the Russian Federation.
	ECGD does not disclose more detailed information on applications prior to guarantee issue for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

Export Credits

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which UK companies have received Export Credit Guarantees Department support for (a) the development of logging operations and (b) mining projects, since 1997; and what the locations of those operations were.

Patricia Hewitt: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Main UK exporter Project type Location 
		
		
			 Cementation Skanska Coal mine Iran 
			 NSG Exports Ltd. Quarry Saint Kitts and Nevis 
			 Continental FSW Ltd. Coal mine Mexico 
		
	
	ECGD also provided Overseas Investment Insurance in respect of three other projects—a copper/gold mine in Argentina, a coal mine in Kazakhstan and a limestone quarry in Jamaica. Details of Investment Insurance support are commercially confidential.

GATS Agreement

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the UK Government's position in the GATS negotiations and the final agreement will be subject to approval by Parliament; and if she will make a statement on the role of Parliament in the ratification process.

Patricia Hewitt: The GATS negotiations are part of the Doha development agenda of the World Trade Organisation, in which the United Kingdom negotiates through the European Community. The Government will continue to keep Members informed of developments throughout the negotiations. In respect of the GATS, copies of a recent consultation document were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses last October, and we will also deposit there a summary of the responses received.
	The Government has and will continue to keep Parliament informed of developments in the negotiations on the Doha development agenda, including on GATS. After the Doha ministerial meeting in November 2001 I made a detailed statement of the results of the meeting and the United Kingdom's position. The Government will ensure that both Houses will have an opportunity to scrutinise the outcome of the Doha development agenda negotiations as they have the results of previous multilateral trade negotiations.

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department and its agencies have met the commitment arising from action point 13 of the June 2000 strategy Statement on Revitalising Health and Safety to summarise health and safety performance and plans in Annual Reports from the year 2000–01 onwards.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has published its first annual report on health and safety, which includes information on its performance in 2000–01. Departmental agencies have for some time included health and safety in their annual reports. They are now reviewing those inclusions to ensure their reported performance and plans reflect the requirements of the Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which senior officials within her Department and its agencies take responsibility for health and safety at board or equivalent level; and where their names are publicised.

Patricia Hewitt: My Permanent Secretary has overall responsibility for health and safety for my Department and its Agencies. For my Department this responsibility has been delegated to the Director General Services. Both are members of my Department's Executive Board.
	Agency Chief Executives are responsible for health and safety matters in their Agency. In addition, in the Insolvency Service the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, in the Patent Office the Director of Corporate Services, and in the Employment Tribunals Service the Estates Director are the Directors responsible for health and safety. All are members of Agency Steering Boards.
	All names are publicised in the Civil Service Year Book.

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collated on the application to her Department and its agencies of the checklist, circulated by letter by Sir Richard Mottram, referred to under action point 12 of the revitalising health and safety strategy statement; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has reviewed its governance arrangements for managing health and safety risks based on the checklist circulated by Sir Richard Mottram. This exercise has identified some actions, including revision of the Departmental Health and Safety Policy Statement to reflect the requirements of the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy Statement.
	Departmental agencies have reviewed their arrangements against the ministerial checklist published in the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy Statement. They will be looking to extend their reviews to take into account the checklist circulated by Sir Richard Mottram.

Industrial Tribunals

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make (a) judgments and (b) transcripts of cases being heard by industrial tribunals available through the internet.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 7 January 2003
	There are no plans to put employment tribunal (formally industrial tribunal) decisions on the internet.

Mineworkers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mineworkers (a) are employed in Bassetlaw, (b) were employed in Bassetlaw 10 years ago and (c) are estimated to be employed in 10 years time.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Separate employment figures on a constituency basis are not available, but figures produced by the Coal Authority show that in September 2002, there were 1,785 miners employed in Nottinghamshire as a whole, all of whom worked in deep mines.
	In 1992, figures were compiled differently. Figures published by the British Coal Corporation show that in March 1992, there were a total of 11,200 miners employed in Nottinghamshire as a whole, with 9,600 employed in deep mines and 1,600 employed in opencast mines.
	DTI does not produce estimates of future employment figures in the coal industry.
	Sources:
	The Coal Authority
	British Coal Corporation Report and Accounts, 1991–92

Mineworkers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mineworkers (a) are employed in England, (b) were employed 10 years ago and (c) there are estimated to be in 10 years time.

Brian Wilson: In September 2002, there were 7,970 mineworkers, including contractors, employed in England, with 6,832 employed in deep mines and 1,138 employed in opencast mines.
	Employment figures in 1992 were compiled on a different basis and do not identify England separately. Figures published by the British Coal Corporation show that in March 1992, there were a total of 42,300 mineworkers employed in England and Wales, with 36,500 employed in deep mines and 5,800 employed in opencast mines. The corresponding figures for England and Wales in September 2002 show a total of 8,920 workers, with 7,420 employed in deep mines and 1,500 employed in opencast mines.
	DTI does not produce estimates of future employment figures in the coal industry.
	Sources:
	The Coal Authority
	British Coal Corporation Report and Accounts 1991–92
	(Figures for Wales in 1992 cannot be separately identified)

Nuclear Energy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reduce the United Kingdom's reliance upon nuclear energy.

Brian Wilson: The Government are currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper shortly. The review includes consideration of the future role of nuclear power.

PACEC Consultancy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the projects by PACEC Consultancy within her Department since 1998 and their costs; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 7 January 2003
	From the centrally-held information available, thee have been two PACEC contract since 1998:
	Survey of the impact of a Trade Partners UK service, costing #74K
	Report on Business Links in London, costing #11.5K

Policy Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the bodies outside her Department that have been involved in her Department's policy development in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Central records are not kept but my Department consults very extensively on a wide range of issues affecting business, employees and consumers. In the course of recent reviews of the Department, for example, some 1,500 organisations and individuals provided their views.

Renewable Energy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the most recent measure is of the percentage of electricity used in the London Headquarters Estate generated by renewable sources; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 9 January 2003
	Electricity generated from renewable sources currently constitutes 36 per cent of the total electricity used by the London Headquarters Estate.

Rural Newsagents

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from rural newsagents on the impact of changes in newspaper carriage costs.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 January 2003
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received a number of recent representations about the concerns of rural newsagents over newspaper carriage charges.
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has recently carried out a review of the 1994 Code of Practice on newspaper distribution. This also addressed the issue of carriage and service charges. On 12 December 2002, the OFT published it provisional recommendations. The main provisional recommendation is that selling-on within exclusive territories should be fully liberalised. The provisional recommendations are now open for public consultation until 14 March 2003.

Services (Electronic Access)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of her Department and its associated agencies' services are accessible electronically; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Fifty five per cent. of the planned total of services within my Department and associated agencies were accessible electronically in mid November, when the most recent review was carried out.
	The Department remains committed to meeting the Government's target for making its services accessible electronically by 2005.

Severn Estuary (Tidal Power)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consideration has been given to harnessing tidal power in the Severn Estuary; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Department commissioned a study by the Severn Tidal Power Group which considered the merits of a reappraisal of a Severn Estuary tidal barrage project. This report of that study was recently published and is available on the DTI website at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/severn.shtml. The potential of renewable sources of energy, including tidal barrage schemes such as that proposed for the Severn Estuary, will be addressed in the Energy White Paper which will be published shortly.

Small Business Service

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the performance indicators that have been put in place to assess the success of the Small Business Service.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon .Member to the reply I gave my hon .Friend the Member for Chorley on 22 October 2002, Official Report, column 248–49W.

Solar Energy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to increase the use of solar energy by domestic industry; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Private companies can apply for 40 per cent. grants (50 per cent. in the case of SMEs) to install solar photovoltaic systems under the #20 million first phase of the Major PV Demonstration Programme. With a medium or large scale system they may be able to claim the renewable obligation certificates for electricity they generate if they can reach agreement with their electricity supplier.
	VAT on solar water heating professionally installed systems has been reduced to 5 per cent. since April 2000, and private companies can apply for enhanced capital allowances (tax refunds) for installing this technology, among other energy efficiency and energy saving measures.

Spending Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list for her Department (a) those Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Department publishes progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in its Expenditure Plans Report and Autumn Performance Report. The Department's Autumn Performance Report will be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Expenditure Plans Report for 2002–03 to 2003–04 was published in June 2002; the Report for 2003–04 to 2004–05 is due to be published in Spring 2003.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 307W, on anti-social behaviour orders, of the 18 persons fined how many fines have been collected; and at what rate.

John Denham: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) ASBOs, (b) parenting orders and (c) curfew orders have been issued in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne.

John Denham: holding answer 9 January 2003
	(a) The table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued within the Northumbria Magistrates Courts Committee (MCCs) area (in which the City of Newcastle upon Tyne is situated) and by local government authority up to 30 June 2002 (latest available).
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under-reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	(b) Youth Justice Board figures indicate that 2,712 Parenting Orders were imposed in England and Wales between April 2000 and September 2002. During this period the number imposed in Newcastle upon Tyne was eight.
	(c) Figures from the electronic monitoring contractors indicate that 3,037 Curfew Orders with electronic monitoring were imposed on young offenders aged 10 to 15 in the period from the start of the contracts on 28 January 1999 to the end of December 2002. During that period the number imposed in Newcastle upon Tyne was five.
	No applications have yet been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Some local authorities and police forces have considered the possibility but concluded that other measures should be taken to tackle relevant local problems.
	
		Number of ASBOs as notified to the Home Office by magistrates courts committee and local authority area within England and Wales, April 1999-June 2002
		
			 MCC/local authority area Total issued 
		
		
			 Northumbria MCC 25 
			 Of which  
			 From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa 8 
			 From 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2002 by local authority area 17 
			 Gateshead MBC 3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne, City of 3 
			 North Tyneside Council 8 
			 South Tyneside MBC 2 
			 Sunderland CC 1 
		
	
	Note
	Between 1 April 1999–31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation was held with the towns and cities to which asylum seekers will be sent; how many agreed to accept them; and what responsibility (a) NASS and (b) the accommodation agency has for assessing health and social services provision.

Beverley Hughes: Prior to becoming operational the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) wrote to regional consortia for each potential cluster area early in 2000 to seek their views on issues such as integration, access to education and healthcare before finalising the initial cluster list. Any representations against designation were carefully considered by NASS before a final decision was made.
	Neither NASS nor our accommodation providers formally assess the impact of dispersal on healthcare and social services. These are matters for the Department of Health (DOH) but it is not intended that dispersal should place an overwhelming burden on provision of services and MASS does liaise with colleagues in the DOH about dispersal.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what review of the experience of (a) Clearsprings and (b) Landmark (Liverpool) in (i) housing and (ii) accommodation of asylum seekers was conducted before contracts were agreed;
	(2)  how many of his contractors for making provision for asylum seekers are (a) run, (b), owned and (c) managed by former asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is part of the Home Office and all its procurement exercises are undertaken in accordance with standard Government procurement rules. As part of the procurement process checks were made on the capability and suitability of potential suppliers and these checks would have included a review of their experience of housing and accommodation but not necessarily limited to asylum seekers. Former asylum seekers who have been given refugee status or allowed to remain on another basis are able to work and engage in business. Their former status as an asylum seeker would not have been taken into account in deciding whether the company was reputable.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow new asylum seekers to be able to work and so enable them to pay for their own support.

Beverley Hughes: There are no plans to re-introduce an employment concession for asylum seekers. The concession was established when widespread delays were occurring in the asylum system. By the time the concession was abolished in July last year it had become largely irrelevant and only applicable to a minority of applicants. The vast majority—around 80 per cent.— of asylum seekers currently receive an initial decision within six months of their application being submitted and could not therefore benefit from the terms of the concession.
	We also believe that allowing new asylum applicants to work could act as a pull factor. We are determined to maintain a robust asylum process which helps those fleeing persecution and not those who wish to come to the UK to work. Those who wish to come here for the purpose of employment have a range of schemes open to them and we continue to open up more routes to allow people to come here and work legally in ways which boost our economy.

Cambridgeshire Police Authority (Government Support)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his response to the request by Cambridgeshire Police Authority for central Government support for the cost of (a) policing animal rights demonstrations during 2001–02, and (b) Operation Fincham in Soham during the current year.

John Denham: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, approved two special grants on 7 January totalling #4.65 million for the Cambridgeshire constabulary. He has awarded them a grant of #1.1 million for the additional costs of policing demonstrations in connection with Huntingdon Life Sciences in 2001–02. This is in addition to the #1 million special grant the force received in 2000–01.
	The police authority has also been given a special grant of #3.55 million as a contribution to the additional costs of Operation Fincham in Soham.
	The additional assistance we have provided has been welcomed by the Chairman of the Police Authority (Councillor John Reynolds) and the Chief Constable (Tom Lloyd QPM).

Charities

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if his Department will take lead responsibility for the Government response to the Strategy Unit Review of Charities and the wider Not-for-Profit sector;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to propose legislation in response to the recommendations of the Strategy Unit Review of Charities and the wider Not-For-Profit sector.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for charities, charity law and the voluntary and community sector in England and Wales. The Active Community Unit of the Home Office has responsibility for managing the programme of implementation of the recommendations in the Strategy Unit report, working in conjunction with other Departments and agencies as appropriate.
	The consultation period for the report ran until the end of December 2002. Work has now started on analysing the responses that have been received. The Active Community Unit will later this year publish an implementation plan for the recommendations arising from the report. The Government are in principle committed to legislate and will be looking for an early opportunity to do so.

Children in Prison

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were in prison in each of the last 10 years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The number of people under the age of 18 held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales in the past 10 years is as follows. Information is shown as at 30 June each year.
	1992—1,328
	1993—1,304
	1994—1,526
	1995—1,675
	1996—2,093
	1997—2,479
	1998—2,466
	1999—2,422
	2000—2,434
	2001—2,448
	2002—2,609

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4 November 2002 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Jabar Abdullah Mawlood.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 December 2002.

Crime Initiatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government initiatives have been put in place in the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London, designed to bring down crime; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: There has been much work on crime reduction during 2002–03 within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames which has been funded through Government initiatives: Communities Against Drugs (#169,000), Safer Communities Initiative (#54,000), and the Partnership Development Fund (#20,000). This has helped Richmond Crime Reduction Partnership, which covers Twickenham, to implement local schemes such as the development of a youth project targeting those at risk of committing street crime, pro-active policing of suppliers of class 'A' drugs, and supporting a closed circuit television (CCTV) control room.
	Across London, Government funding has been provided for several crime reduction initiatives including over #16 million through Communities Against Drugs; #21 million for CCTV equipment since 1999; #1.5 million on Reducing Burglary Initiative; #7.3 million for the neighbourhood wardens and street wardens initiative; #7.2 million for Targeted Policing Initiative, and #9.1 million for the Robbery Reduction Initiative.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police forces on linking the investigation of child physical abuse and the potential for domestic violence against women in the same household.

John Denham: The core inter-agency child protection guidance is XWorking Together to Safeguard Children". It was published jointly by the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills in 1991, and revised and updated in 1999. The guidance is addressed to all those whose work brings them into contact with children and families, including the police. Chapter 6 of the document provides guidance on 'Child Protection in Specific Circumstances', and includes a section on domestic violence. It highlights the need for professionals to be alert to the frequent inter-relationship between domestic violence and the abuse and neglect of children. It specifically states that when there is evidence of domestic violence, the implication for any children in the household should be considered, including the possibility that the children themselves may be subject to violence or other harm. Conversely, where it is believed that a child is being abused, those involved with the child and family should be alert to the possibility of domestic violence within the family.
	In addition to this, 'Policing Domestic Violence—a Modular Training Programme', was developed by Centrex in 2002. It is a national training product, intended to provide a structured, but flexible approach to the delivery of domestic violence training within the Police Service. Module 4 is dedicated to 'Domestic Violence and Children', and aims to explain the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse and give detailed information to operational staff on this subject. The material has been developed with the assistance of the Women's Aid Federation of England and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), and has been widely circulated both within and outside the Police Service for comment and enhancement.

Drugs (Coalfield Communities)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional assistance does he plan to invest in (a) coalfield communities and (b) Bassetlaw following the re-launch of the Government's drugs strategy.

Bob Ainsworth: Additional funding from the spending review 2002 for tackling drug misuse will mean that from April 2003 all drug action team areas will see an increase of at least 10 per cent. in pooled treatment budget allocations.
	Over the next three years, new money will be invested in the introduction or extension of a range of interventions within the criminal justice system and will initially be focussed on those areas with the very worst drug problems. However all areas will benefit from the major investment in improvements we are delivering across the country.

Heroin Addicts

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure that ex-heroin misusers can re-enter employment following a criminal conviction.

Bob Ainsworth: The Home Office and the Department of Work and Pensions are in regular contact to ensure that those with a history of illegal drug use—including heroin use—are able to secure and maintain employment.

Illegal Immigrants

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if illegal immigrants who have spent a long period of time in the UK will be considered for deportation in the same way as those who have just arrived in the country.

Beverley Hughes: Length of residence in the United Kingdom is one of the factors taken into account when deciding whether or not to remove an illegal entrant. Other factors include: age; strength of connections with the United Kingdom; personal history; domestic circumstances; previous criminal record and the nature of any offence of which the person has been convicted (where applicable); any compassionate circumstances; and any representations received on the person's behalf.
	Under the Long Residence Concession, persons who have continuously been in the United Kingdom for 14 years unlawfully, or a mixture of lawfully and unlawfully, before the commencement of enforcement action are normally given indefinite leave to remain unless there are strong countervailing factors.
	In addition, it is our policy not to proceed with enforcement action against those families where there are children who have lived continuously in the United Kingdom for seven years or more. However, there may be cases where it is appropriate to depart from this policy, for example, if one of the parents has been convicted of a serious offence.

Illegal Immigrants

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people he estimates are in the UK illegally but not in contact with authorities.

Beverley Hughes: There is currently no official estimate of the number of immigrants unlawfully present in the United Kingdom who are not in contact with the authorities. The Home Office has commissioned a review of methods of estimating the size of the illegally resident population used in other countries.

Nursing Staff (Work Permits)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much correspondence he has received from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public on the licensing checks made by Work Permits (UK) on nursing agencies who recruit overseas nurses.

Beverley Hughes: I am not aware that the Home Office has recently received any correspondence specifically concerned with this subject.

Prison Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 18 December, ref 87475, how much funding has been allocated and over what time period for the full time and part time suicide prevention co-ordinators; what definition he uses of the term prisoner listeners; what the purpose of the initiative is; and if he will list the establishments piloting the new health care screening procedures.

Hilary Benn: For the most high-risk prisons #780,000 a year has been allocated for 30 full-time suicide prevention co-ordinators (SPCs). This money is allocated directly from the central funds. The costs of the other 99 full and part-time SPCs are funded from local budgets, and not aggregated centrally. These SPCs combine suicide prevention duties with other prison work at the discretion of individual Governors.
	XListeners" are prisoner volunteers who are selected, trained and supported by the Samaritans to offer confidential support to their fellow prisoners who may be at risk of suicide, otherwise in crisis, or simply in need of someone to talk to. The scheme's objectives are to assist in preventing suicide, reducing self-harm and to help alleviate the feelings of those in distress.
	Between August 2001 and June 2002 the new health care screening procedure was piloted in ten local prisons. Of the ten establishments, six were adult male remand prisons (Leeds, Wandsworth, Holme House, Liverpool, Manchester and Durham), two were for female remand prisoners (Eastwood Park and New Hall) and two were young offender institutions (Feltham and Glen Parva). The two female prisons include both adults and women aged 16–21 years. An evaluation of the pilot project supported implementation of the new reception screening arrangements across the estate, and a rolling programme is planned to start in April 2003.

Private Action, Public Benefit

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring in new legislation suggested in the publication, XPrivate Action, Public Benefit" of December 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The report, XPrivate Action, Public Benefit", was published on 25 September 2002 and the consultation period ran until the end of December 2002. Work has started on analysing the responses which have been received. The Active Community Unit will later this year publish an implementation plan for the recommendations arising from the report. The Government are in principle committed to legislate and will be looking for an early opportunity to do so.

Religious and Ethnic Groups

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to prevent the separation and isolation of minority religious and ethnic groups from the rest of UK society.

Beverley Hughes: We are committed to ensuring the fair treatment and inclusion of all communities within our society. We are actively working to ensure that where there are divisions along lines of race, religion, class—or any other factor—barriers are broken down, discrimination is eradicated and positive relationships are encouraged.
	The Government are committed to social inclusion and equality of opportunity for all. Since 1997 we have done much to stamp out unlawful race discrimination in the United Kingdom. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 is the most far-reaching reform of race law in Britain for 30 years. And we have some of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in Europe.
	The law has also been strengthened on incitement to racial hatred and racially and religiously aggravated offences in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
	We have an on-going dialogue with the minority religious communities to ensure that Government policy is sensitive to their needs and to reassure them that the Government values the part that they have to play in building cohesive communities. We also encourage and support inter-faith dialogue and activity.
	Since the disturbances of summer 2001—which demonstrated the isolation of certain communities—we have taken forward a number of programmes specifically aimed at improving community cohesion in England and Wales.
	Among other things we have: funded a summer activities programme; set up a new programme of community facilitation; established a community cohesion panel and a number of practitioner groups to ensure that our policies and programmes help rather than hinder community cohesion; published—jointly with the Local Government Association, Commission for Racial Equality, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Inter Faith Network—guidance to local authorities on community cohesion; worked with local areas—including Bradford, Oldham and Burnley to enable them to produce action plans on community cohesion; launched a community cohesion pathfinder programme; and adopted a public service agreement target on community cohesion.

Rohypnol

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to reclassify rohypnol.

Bob Ainsworth: Rohypnol, the proprietary name for the substance flunitrazepam, is one of the benzodiazepine family of drugs. It is controlled as a Class C drug—there are no plans to reclassify it.

Suffolk Punch

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has reached a decision concerning the future of the Suffolk Punch Stud at Hollesley Bay Prison and Young Offenders' Institution; if he will allow the care of the horses to continue to be carried out by the inmates, while transferring the financial responsibility of maintaining the Suffolk Punch Stud from the Prison Service to the Suffolk Punch Trust; and if he will meet the hon. Member for Huddersfield and members of the Suffolk Punch Trust to discuss the future maintenance of the Suffolk Punch Stud.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service has been reviewing its farming operations, including the future of the Suffolk Punch Stud at Hollesley Bay. The Prison Service is in contact with the Suffolk Horse Trust and recently held a meeting with Mr. Marsh of the Trust. It is the Service's aim for the horses to remain within Suffolk and for opportunities to continue in training of prisoners in equine skills. I would be happy to meet the Suffolk Horse Trust when proposals for the way forward are further developed.

Sussex Traffic Police

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police officers have been attached to Sussex traffic police in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what (a) number and (b) percentage of Sussex Police are engaged in speed management.

John Denham: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has provided the following information.
	
		Sussex Police (Traffic Officers)
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Number of Traffic Officers(27) Percentage of force strength(28) 
		
		
			 1997–98 206 6.9 
			 1998–99 197 6.9 
			 1999–2000 191 6.8 
			 2000–01 190 6.6 
			 2001–02 174 6.0 
		
	
	(27) Police officers who are predominately employed on motor cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. Not including officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties.
	(28) Traffic officers as a percentage of force strength.
	The basis on which HMIC classify Police Service staff changed in the year 1999–2000, so the figures for 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. Some officers counted as deployed to traffic duties in earlier years may, from 1999–2000 onward, have been recorded as deployed to duties relating to traffic wardens.
	Deployment of officers to traffic and speed management duties are matters for the Chief Constable. I understand from the Chief Constable that about 142 constables are currently deployed on traffic duties.
	I am told by the Chief Constable that speed management is designed to influence driver behaviour and is directed to those instances where there can be a link between collisions and speed. Speed enforcement tactics are targeted where there is likely to be the greatest chance of casualty reduction. I understand that all Sussex traffic officers can be directed to speed management activities and are trained for it. However, I am told that the equivalent of four full-time officers are regularly directed to this activity.

Sussex Traffic Police

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile camera speed checks have been carried out by Sussex traffic police in the last year.

Bob Ainsworth: I understand from the Chief Constable of Sussex that over the last year members of the Sussex Police Safety Camera Team have undertaken 262 mobile speed camera checks in which speeding offences were detected. This figure does not take account of other checks where there was no such detection.

Transnational Sex Trade

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of transnational sex trade have been reported to British authorities in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not held on the number of victims of transnational sex trade that have been reported to British authorities in the last five years.

Vehicle Clamping

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government propose to take to regulate motor vehicle clamping by private organisations.

Bob Ainsworth: Regulation of motor vehicle clamping by private security firms on private land will be introduced by the Security Industry Authority, a non-departmental public body (NDPB) being set up by the Home Office under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The authority is currently preparing for regulation, which will take the form of licensing all individuals carrying out activities covered by the Act. The suitability of individuals applying for a licence will be assessed in accordance with published criteria relating to criminality and competency. The Security Industry Authority will be established as an NDPB on 1 April 2003 and it is expected that it will start licensing clamping operatives by the end of this year/early 2004. It will be a criminal offence to engage in licensable conduct without a licence.

Visa Processing

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are given to case workers at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to assist them in determining what constitutes (a) a straightforward and (b) a non-straightforward further leave to remain visa application.

Beverley Hughes: There are no specific guidelines. A straightforward application for leave to remain in the United Kingdom is one where it is clear from the information and evidence submitted that the requirements of the immigration rules are satisfied. An application which is not straightforward may require further inquiries, additional checks or discretionary consideration before it can be decided. Whether individual applications are straightforward depends on the individual circumstances of the case.

Visa Processing

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it is taking the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to process (a) a non-straightforward and (b) a straightforward further leave to remain visa application; and which month's post is being opened by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate with regard to visa applications.

Beverley Hughes: We aim normally to screen all postal applications within three weeks and decide those that are straightforward at that point. However, because of the high number of applications in the latter part of 2002, this is currently taking around 10 weeks on average. Some that are not straightforward because they need further inquiries or more detailed consideration can take around 12 months to decide, subject to how easy it is to obtain the information and how quickly applicants respond to such requests. We are taking measures to improve this situation and expect to make significant progress towards our three-week target for initial screening over the next two to three months, and to reduce the turnaround time for deciding more complex cases.
	Postal applications received at the very end of December 2002 are currently being opened and details entered on to the General Casework Information Database. Those received in early January 2003 will be opened and entered very shortly and it is anticipated that the time-lag will be reduced to a week or less by the end of January.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Zimbabwe

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the (a) extent and (b) degree of malnutrition in Zimbabwe and of the (i) distribution and (ii) availability of food supplies in Zimbabwe, broken down by region.

Clare Short: No credible nutritional assessment took place during 2002. Such data as was collected suggests that in August 2002, 24 per cent. of six month to five year olds were underweight. This compares to 13 per cent. in 1999. This indicates a significant level of chronic or 'background' malnutrition. Under current circumstances it is reasonable to predict that levels of severe malnutrition will be increasing. DFID is funding a rapid nutrition assessment, to include other health indicators, which will take place in the first two weeks of February.
	The following table gives the distribution of maize since April 2002 by Government (as at early November) and by the World Food Programme (as at end December). Other food flows from bilateral feeding programmes are not currently available by district and are lower in total than WFP flows. These statistics do not include wheat and other commodities.
	
		tonnes 
		
			 Area Government World food programme 
		
		
			 Masvingo 34,662 36,174 
			 Matabeleland 33,588 26,972 
			 Mashonaland 96,431 21,040 
			 Midlands 44,102 15,234 
			 Manicaland 49,259 14,513 
			 Harare 218,823 — 
			 Bulawayo 92,438 — 
			
			 Total 569,303 113,933

Bangladesh

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance has been given to Bangladesh by her Department in each of the last three years.

Clare Short: The financial assistance given to Bangladesh by my Department in each of the last three years is set out in the table:
	
		# million 
		
			 Period Amount 
		
		
			 1999–2000 71.8 
			 2000–01 76.9 
			 2001–02 65.8

Cambodia

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department is giving to Cambodia in 2003–04; and if it is tied to sustainable forestry management.

Clare Short: No final decision on the 2003–04 allocation for Cambodia has yet been made. We are currently reviewing our funding promoting sustainable forestry but the bulk of our support will continue to be in the areas of health and sustainable rural livelihoods and will not be tied to forest management. Further information is set out in the Cambodia Country Strategy Paper of March 2000, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Capita Group

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Henley on 6 March 2002, Official Report, column 337W and 7 March 2002, Official Report, column 466W. Since then, we have issued a further contract to Capita RAS, Support to the Ethiopian Civil Service Reform Programme at a cost of #51,250. Information on low value contracts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental Christmas cards she and her Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if she will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card she has sent this year.

Clare Short: holding answer 19 December 2002
	I did not send any departmental Christmas cards.
	Sally Keeble sent 81 departmental Christmas cards which cost 95p each to purchase. They took approx one and a half hours of staff time to sign, address and envelope. They were posted as second class mail. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards was made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
	I have placed a copy of the Christmas card in the Library of the House.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by her Department and Government agencies answerable to her Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Clare Short: holding answer 19 December 2002
	An official reception was held at a cost of #2,261.44. Otherwise nothing was spent on entertainment, decorations or other festive activities this Christmas season. We do not have official residences. DFID does not have any Government agencies answerable to it.
	Expenditure incurred for the reception was made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

North Korea

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department gives development aid to North Korea.

Clare Short: The United Kingdom is not providing development assistance, to North Korea.
	However, we continue to respond to humanitarian needs through the European Commission, the United Nations and International Red Cross Movement. In financial year 2001–02, my Department provided just over #2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund, for support to flood victims and to emergency primary health care programmes. In 2002, ECHO provided 15 million euros in food emergency aid and will provide a further 9.5 million euros for food aid in 2003. The UK contribution is 19 per cent.

Theft/Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

Clare Short: The estimated cost to DFID's budget of theft and fraud in the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 is #84,000. Details of suspected or proven fraud are provided to the Treasury on an annual basis. The annual report that the Treasury prepares is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

PRIME MINISTER

Boundary Committee

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he wrote to the Boundary Committee; and about which boundaries.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Monday 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 522W.

Delivery Unit

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister to which Minister the Delivery Unit is accountable; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The Delivery Unit reports to me. Lord Macdonald, Minister for the Cabinet Office, oversees its work on a day-to-day basis.

Euro (Swedish Referendum)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Sweden concerning the Swedish referendum on the Euro scheduled for 14th September.

Tony Blair: I have discussed a range of EU issues with the Prime Minister of Sweden recently, on 15 November in Warsaw and at the Copenhagen European Council on 12–13 December.

Farming and Food Commission

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Prime Minister how many written representations he has received in support of the recommendations of the Policy Commission on the future of farming and food.

Tony Blair: I received over 300 letters last year about farming, including ones on the recommendations of the Policy Commission report on the Future of Farming and Food.
	Overall, there was widespread support for the broad thrust of the recommendations. The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food for England, launched on 12 December 2002, incorporates the Government response to the recommendations and builds on the vision set out in the Policy Commission's report.

Honours

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons (a) knighted or equivalent and (b) admitted to each rank of the orders of chivalry in each honours list since January 2002 were honoured for their contribution as (i) employees of Her Majesty's Government or a Government-sponsored organisation, (ii) employees of local government or a local government-sponsored organisation, (iii) private sector employees, (iv) voluntary sector employees, (v) health service employees, (vi) school staff and (vii) volunteers.

Tony Blair: I can give details of those honoured in the Birthday 2002 and New Year 2003 lists which I recommended to Her Majesty. The information available is as follows:
	(i) Four State Servants were honoured at Knight/Dame level in the Birthday Honours List and another four in the New Year Honours List—2003. 33 were honoured at CB, CMG or CBE, 33 at OBE and 61 at MBE in the Birthday Honours. 33 were honoured at CB, CMG or CBE, 31 at OBE and 57 at MBE in the New Year Honours List. It is not possible to readily identify employees of Government sponsored organisations.
	(ii) Among local government employees, including police officers and fire fighters, there were four honours at Knight/Dame level, eight CBEs, 10 OBEs and 34 MBEs in the Birthday List. At New Year, there were four honours at Knight/Dame level, nine CBEs, 12 OBEs and 46 MBEs. Figures for people employed by local government sponsored organisations cannot be readily identified.
	(iii) It is not possible to identify from the names on the Lists those people who are employed in the private sector, many of whom will have been honoured because of what they have done outside their place of employment.
	(iv) The list does not distinguish between paid and unpaid workers in the voluntary sector. Overall, people from the voluntary sector accounted for almost half of those on the List in the Birthday Honours and more than half of those in the New Year Honours.
	(v) The list does not distinguish between NHS employees and others working in the health sector. In the health sector overall, there were five awards at Knight/Dame level, 12 at CBE, 28 at OBE and 66 at MBE in the Birthday List. There were four awards at Knight level, 12 at CBE, 21 at OBE and 68 at MBE in the New Year List.
	(vi) In education, the list does not distinguish between those involved in primary and secondary education and those involved in tertiary and vocational education. In the education sector overall, five awards were made at Knight/Dame level in the Birthday List and again in the New Year List. 18 awards were made at CBE level, 35 at OBE and 60 at MBE in the Birthday List. In the New Year List, 16 awards were made at CBE level, 35 at OBE and 63 at MBE.

Honours

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons in each county were (a) knighted or equivalent and (b) admitted to each rank of the orders of chivalry in each honours list since January 2002.

Tony Blair: The information available is outlined in tables showing the number of awards made on my recommendation in each county in each honours
	lists since January 2002. The tables will be placed in the Library.

National Insurance

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of the right hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) of 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 919W, on national insurance, if he will require departments to reject any potential supplier who uses offshore arrangements intended to avoid employers' national insurance liabilities, or has done so in the last three years.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave the hon. Member on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 919W.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister how many New Deal participants have secured (a) subsidised and (b) unsubsidised employment in his Office; and if he will make a statement on his Office's policy with regard to the employment of New Deal participants.

Tony Blair: My Office's policy is to take New Deal participants from Jobcentre Plus on secondment and provide them with up to six months work experience. During the secondment they continue to be paid by Jobcentre Plus. Since 1998, six New Deal participants have been on secondment to Number 10.

No. 10 Downing Street (Receptions)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister how many times in 2002 10 Downing Street was used by charities for receptions; what the cost of the receptions was; and which charities were involved.

Tony Blair: During 2002, 27 charity receptions were held at 10 Downing Street, including events for Sane, Sight Savers International, Prisoners of Conscience, Saving Faces and Guide Dogs for the Blind. The cost of these receptions was funded by the Charities concerned.

Nuclear Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what recent advice he has received from the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser in respect of the option to use nuclear power in the future.

Tony Blair: The Chief Scientific Adviser has been advising me and other Ministers on nuclear power and other scientific aspects of energy policy. He is invited to attend the Cabinet committee, DA(N), overseeing the development of the Energy White Paper, which is due to be published shortly.

Peerages

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons elevated to the peerage since 20th July 2001 were resident at the time of their elevation in each region of (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Tony Blair: Since 20 July 2001, there have been seven people elevated to the peerage. The following table shows where they were resident at the time of their elevation. It is, of course, possible that some peers may have had more than one residence of which we would be unaware.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 London 2 
			 South East England 1 
			 South West England 1 
			 Northern Ireland 1 
			 Wales 1 
			 Judicial 1 
		
	
	We do not keep records of the home addresses of judicial peers as all correspondence is addressed to their office.

Single Currency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to put in place a timetable for a referendum should the five economic tests on entry into the single currency be met.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 11 December 2002, Official Report, columns 379–80W.

SCOTLAND

Government Expenditure and Revenue

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 2000–01 will be published; and what input she has had into its preparation.

Helen Liddell: The planned publication date of Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) 2000–01 by the Scottish Executive is 20 January. The Scottish Executive take the lead in compiling the report which draws on data from a variety of Government sources.

Gross Domestic Product

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scotland's real GDP growth rate was from (a) 1972 to 1999 and (b) 1989 to 1999.

Helen Liddell: Data compiled by the Scottish Office up to 1999 and subsequently by the Scottish Executive indicates that Scotland's annual real GDP growth rate was 1.8 per cent. from 1972 to 1999 and 2.1 per cent. from 1989 to 1999.

Population Statistics

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when revised population statistics will be released for Scotland.

Helen Liddell: This is a matter for the General Register Office for Scotland, an Associated Department of the Scottish Executive. I understand, however, that revised population statistics will be published by the end of February.

Scottish University Graduates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish university graduates left Scotland after graduation in the last three years.

Helen Liddell: Higher Education in Scotland is a devolved matter. The relevant statistics can be found in the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning section on the Scottish Executive's website.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

International Bribery and Corruption

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of UK legislation against international bribery and corruption.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	The provisions on international bribery and corruption under Part 12 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 came into force on 14 February 2002. They are subject to review under section 122 of the 2001 Act by a committee of members of the Privy Council, which is due to report by 13 December this year. As announced in the Queen's Speech, a draft Bill to reform the law of corruption generally will be published this session.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academies

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the academies which (a) have been established and (b) are proposed, giving the public expenditure which has been (i) incurred and (ii) budgeted in relation to start-up of each.

David Miliband: Three academies have been established so far in Bexley, Haringey and Middlesbrough. A further 21 academies have been proposed and are in various stages of development. The tables show the budgets and expenditure incurred for the current projects across the whole cycle of their development. For the three academies already open, the first table also shows their operating budget and expenditure incurred to date.
	Academy projects receive modest funding to develop proposals to a point where the Secretary of State is satisfied that an academy is viable and a formal funding agreement can be signed. From this point, projects receive additional funding to implement their proposals and prepare for the opening of the academy. Once open, academies receive an annual operational budget to cover their day-to-day running costs, which is comparable to similar maintained schools within their local authority. Similarly, the level of capital funding is intended to ensure that academies are built and equipped to a standard comparable with the best in the maintained sector.
	
		Open academies -- #000
		
			  Recurrent Capital  
			  Development budget Development expenditure Operational budget 2002–03 Operational expenditure 2002–03 Capital budget Capital expenditure 
		
		
			 The Business Academy, Bexley 989 989 4,245 1,794 25,750 14,450 
			 Unity Academy 604 604 4,769 2.307 18,590 0 
			 Greig City Academy 957 957 4,823 2,046 11,000 2,892 
		
	
	
		Academies in development -- #000
		
			  Recurrent Capital 
			  Development budget Development expenditure Capital  budget Capital expenditure 
		
		
			 Barnet 900 443 (29)20,300 430 
			 Bradford 250 36 (29)19,500 0 
			 Brent 900 596 (29)21,400 3,836 
			 Bristol 900 250 20,213 390 
			 Ealing 900 257 27,527 418 
			 Hackney 900 118 20,498 961 
			 Hillingdon (i) 900 430 19,000 285 
			 Hillingdon (ii) 250 0 (29)19,500 0 
			 Kent 250 0 (29)19,500 0 
			 Lambeth 900 252 22,281 32 
			 Leeds 250 25 (29)19,500 0 
			 Liverpool (i) 250 90 (29)23,000 0 
			 Liverpool (ii) 250 0 (29)19,500 0 
			 Manchester 900 99 10,620 4 
			 Northampton 250 35 (29)19,500 0 
			 Nottingham 900 212 14,600 57 
			 Sandwell 250 0 (29)19,500 0 
			 South Middlesbrough 900 491 19,200 5,253 
			 Southwark (i) 900 196 (29)27,125 53 
			 Southwark (ii) 900 460 19,970 885 
			 Walsall 900 476 15,500 5,737 
		
	
	(29) Estimated figures, subject to change, and will be finalised only when the projects are in a position to sign a funding agreement with the Secretary of State.

Admissions Consultation Paper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which organisations were consulted formally on the admissions consultation paper published on 16 September.

David Miliband: The consultation was targeted towards admission authorities, as they would have the most direct interest in changes to the codes and regulations. Therefore, all local education authorities—as the admission authorities for community and voluntary controlled schools—were consulted, along with a representative sample of foundation and voluntary aided schools, who are their own admission authorities, and a smaller sample of other non-admission authority schools. Academies, representative bodies of all school types, as well as many national bodies, were also formally consulted. These were:
	Churches and other belief organisations
	All Church of England and Catholic Dioceses
	Church of England Board of Education
	Catholic Education Service
	The Board of Deputies of British Jews
	Greek Orthodox Church
	British Sikh Education Council
	Association of Muslim Schools (UK)
	Free Church Federal Council
	Methodist Church
	Seventh-Day Adventist Church
	Society of Friends/Quakers
	Council of African and Afro-Caribbean Churches
	British Humanist Association
	The Muslim Educational Trust
	United Synagogue Board of Education
	National Secular Society
	Key organisations
	Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) Ltd.
	The Association of Foundation and Voluntary Aided Schools
	Association of London Government
	Campaign for State Education (CASE)
	Centre for Academies Support Service
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Consortium for Selective Schools in Essex
	Council on Tribunals
	CTC Principals' Forum
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Information for School and College Governors
	Local Government Association
	Local Government Ombudsman
	National Federation of Parent Teacher Associations
	National Governors Council
	Office of the Schools Adjudicator
	The Education Network
	Secondary Heads Association
	National Union of Teachers
	NASUWT
	Ministry of Defence Service Personnel (Policy Families)
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Personnel Services Education Unit)
	The Welsh Assembly
	Department of Health
	Home Office Immigration and Nationality Division
	Cabinet Office (Public Sector Team)
	Others with parental interest
	African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance
	Black Parents in Education
	National Family and Parenting Institute
	We supported the paper consultation by also holding four regional events which were attended by approximately 400 representatives of LEAs and schools.

Admissions Consultation Paper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions took place with (a) local education authorities and (b) schools and colleges on paragraph A.45 of the admissions consultation paper.

David Miliband: We consulted all local education authorities, a representative sample of foundation and voluntary aided schools, who are their own admission authorities, and a smaller sample of other non-admission authority schools, as well as academies, on all aspects of changes to the code. We also held four regional events which were attended by approximately 400 representatives of LEAs and schools.
	However, Annex A of the Code explains the law. Schools have always been required to have an admission number for each relevant age group, including sixth form admissions if they recruit from outside the school. The wording of A.45 differs from the previous code only insofar as it takes account of the abolition of standard numbers. The Code of Practice does not apply to further education colleges.

Child Support

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the rules that apply to CSA payments in relation to assessing household income will apply to maintenance payments paid via a court order when the scheme for educational maintenance allowances is introduced nationally.

Margaret Hodge: The rules in connection with child maintenance are applicable only to the pilot Education Maintenance Allowance scheme. When the national EMA scheme is introduced in September 2004 the income assessment will be revised. We will introduce a household income assessment, in line with that applied by the Inland Revenue for the new Tax Credits. This will not include any income earned by a natural parent who no longer resides with the student, but will count the income of any step-parent in the household.

Child Support

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much it would cost to award maintenance allowance to those students in the pilot areas who have been ruled ineligible because maintenance from the absent parent is paid via a court order rather than through the Child Support Agency and is added to the resident parent's household income.

Margaret Hodge: Evidence from the Local education authorities piloting the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) suggests that less than 1 per cent. of applications have been turned down on these grounds. The total cost of paying and administering EMA in all 56 pilot areas in the 2001–02 financial year was #97.25 million. Therefore, it is estimated that to pay EMA to families in these circumstances, where the joint parental income is over the maximum threshold applicable in the pilot area would incur an additional cost of approximately #1 million.

Education Funding (Leicestershire)

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the level of education funding in Leicestershire; and if he will estimate the (a) percentage and (b) cost difference between Leicestershire and the top funded education authority outside London.

David Miliband: The new system of funding for LEAs consists of a basic entitlement which is the same for all pupils, plus a top up for all deprived pupils, which is the same for all deprived pupils, and a further top up for those LEAs in areas with additional costs for recruitment and retention of staff. Where the average formula spending share per pupil is higher, that reflects a higher number of deprived pupils, and higher area costs. The average Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS) per three to 15 pupil for Leicestershire is #2,939 and for Slough (the authority with the highest average EFSS per pupil outside London) it is #3,828. The difference is just over 30 per cent. or #890 per pupil. The estimated proportion of deprived pupils in Slough is: 36 per cent. in primary schools and 33 per cent. in secondary schools. The proportions for Leicestershire are: 13 per cent. in primary and secondary schools. In addition Slough attracts an Area Cost Adjustment of 13.5 per cent. whereas Leicestershire does not.

FE Colleges (Special Measures)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education colleges are subject to special measures by the Learning Skills Council as a result of unfavourable inspection reports; and in how many cases in the past 12 months they have intended to replace college management.

Margaret Hodge: The LSC published guidance in March 2002. This sets out the powers and arrangements for intervening where further education colleges have unfavourable inspection grades. Neither the Secretary of State nor the LSC has the power to replace the management team of a college. However, the Secretary of State can issue directions to a college corporation or replace members of the corporation, if he feels that a college is being mismanaged. In the past 12 months, 96 out of a total of 400 FE colleges were inspected. Of these, 17 colleges were judged to be inadequate and will require a full re-inspection. A further 35 colleges will require a partial re-inspection, where some areas were found to be less than satisfactory. In all of these cases, it was possible to agree an action plan for improvement without needing to use the statutory powers.

Higher Education

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the attraction, reward and ease of access to higher and further education in areas where exceptionally low proportions of school leavers go into higher and further education.

Margaret Hodge: We are committed to extending opportunity in both further and higher education. As part of our Success for All reform strategy for further education and training—worth an extra #1.2 billion by 2005–06 or over this spending review period, a programme of Strategic Area Reviews led by local Learning and Skills Councils will help build a network of local providers working to increase choice and widen access to further education for young people. The Excellence Challenge—worth #190 million over three years—is already encouraging wider participation in higher education, and is focused on areas of deprivation, many of which have particularly low participation rates in further and higher education. The joint initiative by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Learning and Skills Council, which will be launched in April 2003, also aims to encourage progression in each region.
	We will be publishing our review of higher education shortly, which will reflect our commitment to widening participation.

Higher Education

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will commission an assessment of the likely impact of the General Agreement in Trade and Services on higher education.

Margaret Hodge: Work is already taking place to consider the impact should we decide to make any offers of further commitments in education services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). No such decisions have been taken. The Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), which has the UK lead on the GATS, has recently concluded a public consultation on all aspects of the current round of negotiations. The consultation document was produced with input from the Department for Education and Skills and the Devolved Administrations. Close liaison over the education services sector within the GATS will continue throughout the negotiations. The consultation document noted that many of the principal suppliers of publicly funded higher education in the UK also engage in some commercial activity, and that the Government are reflecting carefully on any GATS implications that the current structure may give rise to.
	Officials in my Department have also consulted directly with Universities UK, the Association of University Teachers and the National Union of Students to take their views and encourage them, and other higher education sector organisations across the UK, to respond to the public consultation.

Language Assistants

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many language assistants are currently employed in maintained private schools.

David Miliband: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Information on non-teaching staff in independent schools is not collected centrally.

Language Teaching

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what choices first to third year pupils at secondary school and those at GCSE level have as to the languages they wish to learn; which languages are compulsory; and how long these are taught for.

David Miliband: The National Curriculum currently states that secondary schools must offer, in key stages 3 and 4, one or more of the official working languages of the European Union. Only when they have met this condition may they offer non-EU languages. Within this requirement, it is for schools to decide which and how many languages they choose to offer.
	However, as we announced in our Languages Strategy, published on 18 December 2002, we intend to amend the statutory requirement at key stage 4 so that schools will no longer be required to teach modern foreign languages to all pupils. All schools will be required to ensure that they are available to any pupil wishing to study them.

National Director for Languages

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the job description for the National Director for Languages will be; when the appointment will be made; and what resources will be allocated to the National Director.

Margaret Hodge: The National Director for Languages post has yet to be advertised but we expect the successful candidate to take up post by September 2003. The National Director will, by 2005–06, have financial resources of #10 million per annum to deliver the numerous initiatives detailed in our strategy document.

Public Education

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what areas of public education are supplied in competition with the private sector.

David Miliband: There are many areas of public education that are supplied by both the public and private sectors. They range from basic schooling, where there are 2,190 independent schools in England, to the provision of education services such as curriculum services, IT support, school transport and support for failing schools.

School Funding (Kent)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pre-school places the Government funded in Medway in (a) 1996 and (b) 2002; and what the change in cost is.

David Miliband: The available information relates to early years places for three and four-year-olds and is shown in the table.
	Nursery Education Grant (NEG) funding for early years places for four-year-olds was introduced in 1996–97; the NEG rate was #1,100 per place. Places in the private, voluntary and independent sectors were eligible for NEG funding. Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) funding for early years places for four-year-olds was introduced and replaced NEG funding in 2001–02; the SSA rate was #2,341 per place in maintained nursery and primary schools and #1,188 per place in the private, voluntary and independent sectors.
	NEG funding of free early years places for three-year-olds was introduced in 1999–2000; for 2001–02, the NEG rate was #1,188 per place. Places in the private, voluntary and independent sectors were eligible for NEG funding.
	In 1996–97, Medway received #3.3 million to fund early years places for four-year-olds. In 2001–02, Medway received #6.6 million to fund early years places for four-year-olds and #2.6 million to fund early years places for three-year-olds. Total funding of early years places increased by #5.9 million, from #3.3 million in 1996–97 to #9.2 million in 2001–02.
	
		Number of three and four-year-olds taking up free early education places, January 1997 and 2002
		
			  Medway(31) 
		
		
			 1997  
			 3-year-olds  
			 Maintained nursery and primary schools(30) 310 
			 Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers n/a 
			 4-year-olds 3,000 
			 Total 3 and 4-year olds(33) 3,300 
			   
			 2002  
			 3-year-olds  
			 Maintained nursery and primary schools(30) 390 
			 Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(32) 2,200 
			 4-year-olds  
			 Maintained nursery and primary schools(30) 2,400 
			 Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(32) 860 
			 Total 4-year-olds 3,300 
			 Total 3 and 4-year-olds 5,900 
		
	
	(30) Headcount of children at 31 December in the previous calendar year, from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(31) Local Government re-organisation established Medway as a local authority in 1998; figures for 1997 were obtained by apportionment.
	(32) Part-time equivalent number of children at 31 December in the previous calendar year, from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(33) Summer term 1997.

School Staff (Turnover Rates)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the staff turnover rates were in schools in England in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) local education authority and (b) Government Office region.

David Miliband: Staff turnover rates are not available at Local Education Authority level.
	The staff turnover rates for schools in England by Government Office region are shown in the table.
	
		(Percentages) 
		
			  1997–1998(34) 1998–1999(34) 1999–2000(35)  
			  Full-time Part-time(36) Full-time Part-time(36) Full-time Part-time(36) 
		
		
			 North East 15.0 36.0 11.4 31.4 11.6 31.4 
			 North West 15.4 33.6 11.4 29.0 13.2 30.3 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 16.1 31.8 11.4 26.2 13.0 27.7 
			 East Midlands 14.9 33.6 13.5 30.1 14.6 31.3 
			 West Midlands 15.2 32.2 13.8 32.3 14.1 32.9 
			 East of England 16.3 32.8 15.8 32.7 16.7 33.7 
			 London 20.1 31.0 18.4 27.2 19.7 28.8 
			 of which :  
			 inner London 22.3 34.1 19.3 28.8 21.3 30.3 
			 outer London 18.9 29.6 18.1 26.4 18.8 28.1 
			 South East 17.4 32.7 16.3 31.7 17.2 32.1 
			 South West 16.1 32.5 14.7 30.2 14.9 32.0 
			 England 16.5 32.6 14.3 30.1 15.3 31.3 
		
	
	(34) Revised data.
	(35) Provisional data.
	(36) The figure excludes 10 per cent to 20 per cent. of part-time teachers not included on the teacher pension scheme records.
	Full-time turnover is defined as all teachers in full-time service in the English maintained schools sector on 31 March who were not in full-time service in the same establishment on 31 march the following year. Turnover therefore includes wastage, transfers to other establishments within the maintained schools sector and teachers leaving to part-time service. Not all employers record all movements between schools within their employ so rates are underestimated.
	Part-time turnover is defined as all teachers in part-time service in the English maintained schools sector on 31 March who were not in part-time service in the same establishment on 31 March the following year. Turnover therefore includes wastage, transfers to other establishments within the maintained schools sector and teachers leaving to full-time service. Not all employers record all movements between schools within their employ so rates are underestimated.

School Standards

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to run pilot schemes for plans contained in his Department's report XTime for Standards", to remove administrative and clerical tasks from teachers; and if he will publish the results of those pilots.

David Miliband: On 4 January 2002 my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced the Transforming the School Workforce Pathfinder Project—which is working with 32 schools to explore new ways of working to tackle workload, including the use of support staff and ICT to relieve teachers of non-teaching tasks so that they can concentrate on their core teaching responsibilities. Lessons learnt from these projects will be shared with all schools. The project is being evaluated and a report will be published towards the end of 2003.
	As set out in XTime for Standards", we are seeking agreement with national partners on a range of contractual and other changes, including relieving teachers of administrative and clerical tasks.

Schools (Earned Autonomy)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken towards awarding earned autonomy to schools; and which schools he proposes to be in the first tranche.

David Miliband: We shortly expect to publish a consultation paper on the proposed criteria which schools should meet to qualify for earned autonomy. Until the outcome of consultation is known it is not possible to say which schools will be eligible.

Schools (Specialist Status)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have been made to the selection criteria for schools applying for specialist status since 1997.

David Miliband: Apart from minor amendments, including those designed to clarify existing criteria, the changes made have been:
	a) schools are required to show how links with other schools and the wider community will be extended by achieving specialist status, through the production of a community plan.
	b) the sponsorship requirement has been reduced to 50,000; with a further reduction in the sponsorship requirement for mainstream schools with under 500 pupils.
	c) schools are asked to submit four year development plans (instead of three year plans).
	d) an introduction—and subsequent removal—of a limit on the proportion of specialist schools in an area.
	e) removal of the criterion relating to the proximity of other schools with the same specialism.
	f) priority for applicant schools in Excellence in Cities areas—which was rendered unnecessary by the 28 November 2002 announcement on the expansion of the programme. This announcement also made redundant other criteria relating to location.
	g) the exclusion of schools in Special Measures or with Serious Weaknesses from being able to attain specialist status.

Schools (Specialist Status)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools that have had their applications for specialist status turned down and the reasons their applications were turned down, in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) local education authority and (b) category of specialism.

David Miliband: Applicant schools seeking designation as a specialist school are assessed against published criteria. In the past, applicants were unsuccessful if they did not meet the meet the criteria or if their development plans were not as strong as other applicants in the same competition round. For the future, applicants will not be in competition for places, provided they meet the criteria.
	Copies of the full list of schools, broken down as requested, has been placed in the Libraries.

Schools (Specialist Status)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria a secondary school has to fulfil to achieve specialist status.

David Miliband: Any such school has to: (a) produce a four-year development plan demonstrating effectively how the school will raise standards in the relevant specialist subjects and across the whole school; (b) demonstrate effectively in the plan that links with other schools and the wider community will be extended through attaining the status; and (c) secure the required sponsorship.

Standards Funds

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cash value in 2002–03 was of the standards funds programmes and specific grants which are to be abolished, as announced in the ministerial statement on 9 December.

David Miliband: The total cash values, in 2002–03, being provided by DfES in respect of programmes that will cease to attract grant funding over the next three years is:
	
		# million 
		
			 Programmes that will cease to attract grant funding in: Cash value provided in 2002–03 
		
		
			 2003–04 736 
			 2004–05 343 
			 2005–06 696 
		
	
	These sums are accumulative. They represent both programmes where the activities previously supported are scheduled to cease; and programmes where it will be for schools and LEAs to use part of the increases in Education Formula Spending for the next three years announced in the 2002 Spending Review, if they wish to continue all of the activities for which grant funding was provided in 2002–03.
	Alongside this, DfES will be transferring #500 million in 2003–04, #500 million in 2004–05 and #1,340 million in 2005–06 from its grant provision to Education Formula Spending. This transfer of resources to Education Formula Spending, and the associated cessation of ring-fenced grant support, demonstrate DfES' commitment to reduce the proportion of local authority funding provided as ring-fenced grant.

Student Loans

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to change the method of funding student loans and administration of student loans; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce the outcome of the review of student finance later this month. In addition, we are working with local education authorities and the Student Loans Company to modernise the administration of student support so that studentscan obtain financial help more easily and quickly.

Terrorism

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions his Department has had with each local education authority in England with regard to the provision of guidance for a possible terrorist attack.

Stephen Twigg: My Department continues to work closely with the Cabinet Office and Home Office on what additional advice local authorities and schools need in order to safeguard pupils, staff and property. Local authorities, which have direct responsibility for contingency and emergency planning, will be able to use such advice to determine policy in their locality, including what should be said specifically to schools. To date, no local education authority has asked the Department about this. We have previously provided advice and guidance for authorities and schools collectively on school security generally (www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolsecurity), and specific guidance following the events of September 11 (www.dfes.gov.uk/sept11 guidance).

Trainee Teachers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of teacher trainees left the profession permanently after (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years, in each of the last five years for which information is available.

David Miliband: The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the proportion of newly-qualified teachers who gained their teaching qualifications in England in the period 1996–2000 who were not in full- or part-time regular service in any sector 1 in England on 31 March 2001:
	1 Teachers for which we have a record of being in service in the FE, HE or the independent schools sector are counted as being in service. However, some teachers who work in the FE, HE or independent sector are not included on the Teacher Pension Scheme records and so will be counted as not being in service in the table.
	
		
			 Year qualified Percentage not in service on 31 March 2001 
		
		
			 1996 29 
			 1997 27 
			 1998 25 
			 1999 20 
			 2000(37) 23 
		
	
	(37) Numbers of completers in 2000 are provisional and may be revised upwards.
	The figures exclude 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. of part-time teachers not included on the Teacher Pension Scheme records.
	Some teachers who are recorded as not being in service may be teaching in Wales or in other countries. Others that are not currently in service may return after a career break.

University Admission Standards

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer from the Prime Minister of 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 844, what the requisite standard for admission to university is.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 January 2003
	Admission to university is the responsibility of individual institutions, and each institution determines the requisite standards of entry to the courses it offers. Decisions taken by institutions should be made on the basis of merit, by judging the potential of the applicant to succeed on the course.

University Degrees

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much Government money has been allocated towards funding university degrees in (a) fashion knitwear, (b) surf science, (c) football studies, (d) golf course studies and (e) jazz studies in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government allocates funding for higher education to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Institutions receive funding from the Council as a block grant, calculated on the basis of the number of students who attended in previous years plus any extra student places awarded through the Additional Student Numbers exercise. It is for each institution to determine which courses it offers. They will clearly have regard to the demand as they will only receive funding for students they teach, not courses they run.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Members' Expenses

David Winnick: To ask the President of the Council above what amount claimed by an hon. Member for expenses, receipts and documentation is required; and if it is the policy to adopt best practice in this matter.

Robin Cook: The threshold at which documentation is required for Members' claims varies according to the allowance concerned. I am told that requirements for the main allowances are as follows:
	Incidental expenses provision: receipts or invoices required for each item costing #250 or more;
	Additional costs allowance: documentation required for large items of expenditure;
	Members' travel: the Department of Finance and Administration generally pays the costs of rail and air tickets direct to the supplier, and Members who use their cars receive a mileage allowance. Members normally have to supply documentation if they buy a travel ticket from their own resources and then seek reimbursement, and must provide a detailed account if they claim for constituency mileage in excess of 350 miles per month.
	In addition, the Department of Finance and Administration may ask for additional information in individual cases if it is needed.

State Opening

David Winnick: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to modernise the Commons procedure relating to the state opening of Parliament.

Robin Cook: I have no such plans at present.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Children and Family Court (Support Service)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to allow staff working for the children and family court advisory and support service to be paid to work at weekends and to be given travel allowance.

Rosie Winterton: None. The chief executive of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) is responsible for the day to day operation of the service.
	Under their contractual terms, CAFCASS staff are expected to tailor their work to the needs of each individual case. This may involve working some unsocial hours including weekends, for which staff are able to claim appropriate expenses, including travel allowances; and are either paid for planned overtime agreed with their manager, or are granted time off in lieu to cover working additional hours.

Legal Services Commission

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the regional offices of the Legal Services Commission, stating for each (a) the complement of staff and (b) the number of vacancies at the most recent date for which information is available.

Rosie Winterton: The regional offices of the Legal Services Commission are located as follows, covering the regions denoted in brackets: London (London), Brighton and Reading (south-east), Bristol (south western), Cardiff (Wales), Birmingham (west midlands), Manchester (north western), Newcastle (north-east), Leeds (Yorkshire and Humberside), Nottingham (east midlands), Cambridge (eastern) and Liverpool (Merseyside).
	The complement of permanent staff for each regional office, as of November 2002 and number of vacancies as of 12 December 2002 were as follows:
	
		
			 Office Staff Vacancies 
		
		
			 London 201 6 
			 Brighton and Reading 115 13 
			 Bristol 76 5 
			 Cardiff 68 6 
			 Birmingham 87 0 
			 Manchester 98 0 
			 Newcastle 85 7 
			 Leeds 83 0 
			 Nottingham 115 0 
			 Cambridge 75 1 
			 Liverpool 68 0 
		
	
	The commission also has a processing centre in Chester, which employed 47 permanent staff as of November 2002.

Legal Services Commission

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what basis decisions were made on the location of Legal Services Commission offices; and what population number is served by each office.

Rosie Winterton: The locations of the individual offices of the Legal Services Commission are for the commission to determine. Offices are, in general, located in either the major town or city in each region as detailed in the table. The number, location and size of the regional offices have been reviewed on several occasions, most recently in August 1998.
	With the exception of the head office buildings in London, each of the commission's offices is sited within a region (locations denoted in brackets next to the regions in the table). In England, the commission's regional boundaries match those of the Government Offices for the English Regions, with the exception of Merseyside for which there is no separate Government Office. The commission also has an office covering Wales.
	Based on figures from the 2001 census, the population numbers served by each region and Wales, are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 East Midlands (Nottingham) 4,172,179 
			 Eastern (Cambridge) 5,388,154 
			 London (London) 7,172,036 
			 Merseyside (Liverpool) 1,362,034 
			 North East (Newcastle) 2,515,479 
			 North Western (Manchester) 5,367,766 
			 South East (Brighton and Reading) 8,000,550 
			 South Western (Bristol) 4,928,458 
			 West Midlands (Birmingham) 5,267,337 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside (Leeds) 4,964,838 
			 Wales (Cardiff) 2,903,085

HEALTH

Waiting Times

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients waited (a) over four hours, (b) between two and four hours and (c) under two hours in accident and emergency departments in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region in each quarter since the first quarter of 1996–97.

David Lammy: The Department collects data on total time in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. This information has been collected since August 2001 and the first full set of data was published in Quarter 2, 2002–03. It is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
	In Quarter 2, 2002–03, 23 per cent. of patients waited over four hours in accident and emergency departments in England.
	The Department does not collect information on between two and four hour and under two hour waits for total time in accident and emergency.

Response Times

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the response times against target for category A, B, and C calls in each ambulance trust in the last reporting period.

David Lammy: The latest information available about the proportion of Category A, B and C emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times for all ambulance trusts is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, Ambulance Services, England 2001–02. A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and also at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.

A and E Transport

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours of accident and emergency transport were provided by each NHS ambulance trust in each (a) region and (b) health authority in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information is not collected centrally.

A and E Transport

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours of accident and emergency transport were provided by S. John Ambulance in each (a) region and (b) NHS ambulance trust in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information is not collected centrally.

Abortions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS funded abortions there were in each health authority in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the table by health authority.
	
		NHS funded abortions by health authority of residence, England and Wales 1997–2001
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Avon 2,110 2,231 2,198 2,083 1,957 
			 Barking and Havering 871 1,115 1,068 1,101 1,428 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 2,736 3,369 3,329 3,303 3,185 
			 Barnsley 334 455 421 426 364 
			 Bedfordshire 1,476 1,467 1,538 1,481 1,538 
			 Berkshire 1,440 1,429 1,548 1,641 1,885 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 1,979 2,078 2,093 2,123 2,465 
			 Birmingham 2,811 2,824 2,903 3,348 3,426 
			 Bradford 1,035 1,046 1,016 1,013 1,054 
			 Brent and Harrow 2,723 2,781 2,734 2,804 2,859 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,378 1,486 1,482 1,538 1,644 
			 Bury and Rochdale 718 694 621 784 761 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 1,272 1,295 1,260 1,288 1,180 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon(38) 1,008 988 — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire(38) — — 1,509 1,495 1,514 
			 Camden and Islington 2,189 2,343 2,151 2,162 2,129 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 924 946 998 938 962 
			 County Durham 1,322 1,310 1,151 1,163 1,127 
			 Coventry 1,308 1,294 1,202 1,439 1,458 
			 Croydon 1,388 1,609 1,329 1,430 1,587 
			 Doncaster 696 746 810 757 768 
			 Dorset 1,074 1,113 1,043 960 1,006 
			 Dudley 582 649 565 622 681 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 2,827 2,793 2,674 2,786 2,737 
			 East Kent 843 873 941 1,226 1,399 
			 East Lancashire 1,173 1,225 1,257 1,304 1,197 
			 East London and The City 3,402 3,667 3,728 3,995 3,979 
			 East Norfolk(38) 1,278 1,349 — — — 
			 East Riding 1,368 1,424 1,364 1,348 1,303 
			 East Surrey 765 722 753 786 866 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 1,242 1,280 1,599 1,450 1,537 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 799 761 772 747 706 
			 Gloucestershire 1,221 1,260 1,214 1,162 1,274 
			 Herefordshire 310 357 341 345 339 
			 Hertfordshire 1,882 2,210 2,086 2,180 2,190 
			 Hillingdon 737 792 803 842 894 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and south east 1,584 1,620 1,532 1,5826 1,566 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 2,103 2,054 1,816 1,780 1,753 
			 Kingston and Richmond 665 712 624 639 621 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 4,744 5,716 5,443 5,689 5,766 
			 Leeds 1,918 1,835 1,720 1,849 1,718 
			 Leicestershire 2,080 2,390 2,321 2,275 2,237 
			 Lincolnshire 1,149 1,267 271 1,209 1,196 
			 Liverpool 1,597 1,639 1,562 1,414 1,376 
			 Manchester 1,247 1,282 1,406 1,877 1,851 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 2,312 2,373 2,235 2,219 2,150 
			 Morecambe Bay 621 636 595 572 586 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 1,397 1,415 1,443 1,408 1,357 
			 Norfolk(38) — — 1,567 1,572 1,650 
			 North and East Devon 1,021 972 937 869 929 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 611 659 661 763 945 
			 North Cheshire 855 810 806 798 825 
			 North Cumbria 715 753 712 710 720 
			 North Derbyshire 717 793 713 708 711 
			 North Essex 1,430 1,837 1,650 1,619 1,595 
			 North Nottinghamshire 747 809 726 760 734 
			 North Staffordshire 775 854 776 759 785 
			 North West Anglia(38) 684 827 — — — 
			 North West Lancashire 584 722 632 817 929 
			 North Yorkshire 1,405 1,386 1,266 1,292 1,263 
			 Northamptonshire 1,170 1,269 1,267 1,250 1,341 
			 Northumberland 673 652 635 670 642 
			 Nottingham 1,413 1,591 1,600 1,536 1,608 
			 Oxfordshire 1,622 1,709 1,543 1,505 1,516 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 1,110 1,686 1,292 1,340 1,696 
			 Rotherham 529 556 590 574 569 
			 Salford and Trafford 762 735 958 1,069 1,134 
			 Sandwell 866 888 800 883 942 
			 Sefton 593 576 567 545 591 
			 Sheffield 1,416 1,416 1,354 1,346 1,416 
			 Shropshire 712 836 823 908 857 
			 Solihull 268 249 226 325 320 
			 Somerset 906 1,031 983 886 928 
			 South and West Devon 1,326 1,254 1,398 1,403 1,355 
			 South Cheshire 1,404 1,486 1,356 1,291 1,316 
			 South Essex 1,555 1,741 1,644 1,676 1,691 
			 South Humber 772 817 875 871 792 
			 South Lancashire 453 444 504 488 515 
			 South Staffordshire 1,022 1,095 1,194 1,267 1,254 
			 Southampton and South West Hamps 1,212 1,201 1,144 1,123 1,230 
			 Southern Derbyshire 1,118 1,188 1,174 1,141 1,127 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 755 804 802 756 782 
			 Stockport 596 622 612 560 659 
			 Suffolk 1,245 1,171 1,277 1,234 1,272 
			 Sunderland 771 818 787 790 772 
			 Tees 1,226 1,431 1,444 1,365 1,331 
			 Wakefield 567 493 430 471 564 
			 Walsall 552 555 546 545 545 
			 Warwickshire 1,443 1,415 1,284 1,389 1,417 
			 West Kent 1,922 2,295 2,261 2,281 2,448 
			 West Pennine 879 872 809 1,069 1,211 
			 West Surrey 1,321 1,377 1,374 1,418 1,435 
			 West Sussex 1,053 1,119 1,100 1,194 1,280 
			 Wigan and Bolton 1,062 1,130 1,119 1,182 1,160 
			 Wiltshire 787 891 886 982 1,117 
			 Wirral 765 858 803 845 815 
			 Wolverhampton 478 510 455 578 757 
			 Worcestershire 946 1,051 900 1,067 1,044 
			 Bro Taf 1,507 1,602 1,573 1,620 1,660 
			 Dyfed Powys 876 954 949 915 973 
			 Gwent 1,228 1,372 1,310 1,271 1,285 
			 Morgannwg 1,225 1,200 1,183 1,210 1,110 
			 North Wales 1,598 1,598 1,512 1,441 1,472 
			 Total 123,886 131,900 128,258 131,474 134,611 
		
	
	(38) A time series is not possible for these health authorities as there were boundary changes between 1997 and 2001.
	Note:
	Prepared by Statistics Division 3G, Department of Health.

Accreditation

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is doing to support the Government's policy on accreditation.

David Lammy: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is recognised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as the sole national body for the accreditation, against international standards, of certification and inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories. The Department uses UKAS accreditation services whenever it is appropriate to do so.
	Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. (CPA) accredits the majority of national health service pathology laboratories, and has a Council partnership and a Memorandum of Understanding with UKAS.

Active Care

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints the NHS has received in the past 12 months about lack of active care for people suffering from delayed discharges from acute hospitals.

David Lammy: Data on the number of national health service complaints made each year are set out in the Department of Health publication XHandling complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedures". Due to the diverse range of issues for which complaints may be made under the NHS complaints procedures it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol and drug rehabilitation places are available on the NHS in the Leeds Strategic Area Health Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave to him on Thursday 12 December 2002, Official Report, vol. 396, col. 492W.

Alcohol Strategy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the consultation document on the Government's alcohol strategy.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health and the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit published the national alcohol harm reduction strategy consultation document on 15 October 2002. Copies of the document can be obtained from the following web addresses: www. strateqv.gov.uk/2002/alcohol/consultationdoc.shtml, or www.doh.qov.uk/alcohol/alcoholstrategv.htm.
	The consultation period runs until 15 January 2003.

Automated Defibrillators

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new automated defibrillators have been sited in public places since April 2000.

Hazel Blears: 680 automated external defibrillators have been installed at a total of 110 sites across England.

Breast Cancer

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects focusing on (a) the link between physical activity and the development of breast cancer, (b) diet and the development of breast cancer and (c) breast cancer prevention his Department is funding; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, is the main agency through which the Government supports research on the causes and treatments of disease, including all types of cancer. The Department of Health contributes to the strategies and priorities of the MRC by meeting the national health service costs of the MRC's research (and of charity funded research). The Department also directly funds research to support policy development in health and social care, and to support effective practice in the NHS.
	In terms of directly funded research, the Department's main focus is on interventions to promote healthy living, including diet and physical exercise, and on research on breast cancer screening. For example, the Department is funding research projects with the following titles:
	A health impact assessment of agricultural policy, using the impact on fruit and vegetable consumption as a case study;
	Reducing inequalities in health and diet: the impact of a food retail development—a pilot study;
	Field co-ordination in health promotion linked to the Cochrane Collaboration.
	The Department also funds a programme of work at the cancer screening evaluation unit, which evaluates the effectiveness of screening. Part of this programme includes work on breast cancer screening. There are plans for an observational individual-based study of the efficacy of the breast screening programme. The Department provides joint funding for the age trial, on the effect on breast cancer mortality of annual screening from age 40.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on all health research, including on cancer, is devolved to NHS organisations and details are not routinely collected centrally. Summary information about this research is available on the national research register, which is on the web at www.doh.gov.uk/research.
	The Department is a member of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI). The recent NCRI report XStrategic Analysis 2002" analysed most of the directly funded research of Government and charity funders. The analyses revealed relatively low sums spent on cancer prevention, which has prompted the NCRI to set up a strategic planning group to look at this area to see what further research may be possible and what extra resources might be needed to bring this about. The Department will be working in partnership with its Government and charity cancer research funding partners to take this work forward.

Building Capacity Grants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library his Department's evaluation of the uses to which the (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 building capacity grants have been put.

Jacqui Smith: How councils spent the grant in 2001–02 is shown in the table. Councils have not yet reported for 2002–03. The funding allocated to councils will provide for a continued reduction in the number of delayed discharges from hospitals, so that 20 per cent. fewer beds are blocked in March 2003 compared to March 2002.
	
		Percentage of building care capacity grant 2001–02 spent
		
			 Area of spend Councils targeted for extra help Other Councils 
		
		
			 Residential/nursing care placements 32 52 
			 Intensive home care packages 16 18 
			 Increased fees 20 16 
			 Improved assessment/capacity processes 14 2 
			 Preventative services(39) 10 — 
			 Community equipment(39) — 5 
			 Other (including community equipment(39) 8 — 
			 Other (including preventative services)(39) — 7 
		
	
	(39) Information was collected on a differential basis in two separate exercises

Chest Pain Clinic

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trust areas have a rapid access chest pain clinic within their areas.

Hazel Blears: Rapid access chest pain clinics are a service provided by acute hospital trusts. Information on numbers of clinics by primary care trust areas is not collected centrally, but every general practitioner in England should be able to refer their patients to a rapid access chest pain clinic.

Children's Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's nurses there were in the (a) Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust and (b) Worthing and Southlands Hosptial Trust in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested for Worthing and Southlands Hospitals National Health Service Trust is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified nursing staff within the Paediatric nursing area of work in Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each year -- Whole-time
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Total qualified staff 27 32 42 43 38 
			 Headcount 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
			 Total qualified staff 36 46 53 60 50 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Information is not available centrally on the number of children's nurses employed by Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust.

Children's Vision

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what programmes have been initiated by his Department to (a) promote early detection of specific ophthalmic conditions in children and (b) monitor their visual development; and what evaluation has been carried out as to the benefits of such programmes;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of children between infancy and primary school age who have undetected vision problems;
	(3)  whether it is his Department's policy that identification of visual defects between infancy and primary school age should rely on (a) parental concern and (b) professional awareness;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received on the issue of children's vision screening;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on how and when he plans to implement universal vision screening for children aged between four and five in England;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the likely impact of ceasing screening for vision problems in children between infancy and primary school age.

Jacqui Smith: Many cases of visual defect are detected by parents or family members, others by health professionals in the course of a physical examination. We value and support both approaches. The personal child health record and the XBirth to Five" manual of child health, given to parents around the time of birth, promote the former approach. Programmes of health and development screening checks undertaken by local primary health care teams promote the latter. The purpose of the screening programme is to maximise every child's opportunity to realise their full potential for health, well being and development, and to ensure that remediable disorders are identified and acted upon as early as possible. Local programmes are a matter for primary care trusts to determine and monitor, in accordance with professional advice. This will include the content of and optimal timing for vision screening checks undertaken in childhood and the relative benefits of eye checks between infancy and primary school. I have not received recent representations on this subject but expect there to be active debate during preparation of the national service framework for children, which will set standards aimed at raising the quality of the health and social care services that children receive.

Coronary Care

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been waiting more than 12 months for (a) revascularisation and (b) heart surgery.

Hazel Blears: At the end of September 2002, two patients had waited more than 12 months for revascularisation. Both patients have now been treated. Equivalent figures for heart surgery are not collected in this way but 2001–02 Hospital Episode Statistics suggest a mean waiting time of 124 days for all cardiothoracic surgery.

Drug Treatment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce compulsory (a) methadone and (b) diamorphine prescription training for general practitioners.

Hazel Blears: The Clinical Guidelines, Drug Misuse and Dependence—Guidelines on Clinical Management (1999) clearly outline the role of general practitioners (GPs) in prescribing to drug users. These guidelines are supported by training for GPs. The Royal College of General Practitioners has, with Department funding, developed a certificate in drug misuse for primary care practitioners, aimed at accrediting GPs.

E Coli

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the labelling and cooking instructions for products which may be susceptible to infection by E coli-0157.

Hazel Blears: The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food has advised on the provision of appropriate instructions for products like raw minced beef, raw minced beef products, and beefburgers. This advice is already incorporated in guidance notes to the Food LabellingRegulations and makes clear that such products should be cooked right through so the juices run clear and are not pink inside.

Electronic Patient Records

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts in the south east have introduced electronic patient records.

David Lammy: holding answer 7 January 2003
	All national health service trusts in the south east are in the process of introducing electronic patient records.

Farmed Salmon

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health [pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 23W], if he will publish the advice from independent experts when it is received.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency will publish the advice when received from independent experts on the paper it is preparing on the consumption of fish.

Food Hygiene

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been spent on the Food Standards Agency's food hygiene campaign; and how much money has been allocated for the campaign over the next five years.

Hazel Blears: As part of the Food Standards Agency's remit to cut food borne disease by 20 per cent. by 2006, #4.1 million was spent in 2001–02 and #4.9 million in 2002–03. There is currently an allocation of #4 million per year for the next three years.

Foundation Hospitals

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the independent regulator for NHS foundation hospitals will be appointed.

John Hutton: The position is explained in paragraph 3.28 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he estimates foundation hospital status will improve acute services for NHS patients.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will have the freedom to develop new ways of working that reflect local needs and priorities, within a framework of NHS standards and inspection to guard against two tier health care and protect NHS patients. This new localism is the key to improving the responsiveness of services to local NHS patients.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it will be possible for foundation hospitals to withdraw from provision of health services that they deem not to be profitable.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 3.10–3.12 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there will be restrictions on foundation hospitals providing services other than health-related ones.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will be bound by legislation to have a primary purpose of providing health related services for the benefit of NHS patients and the community (paragraph 1.20 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts"). Activities undertaken by a NHS foundation trust will be limited to those that are conducive to and not detrimental to achievement of the primary purpose (paragraph 3.5 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts").

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the potential change in transaction and legal costs resulting from the legally binding contracts proposed for foundation hospitals.

John Hutton: The introduction of legally binding agreements for National Health Service foundation trusts takes place alongside a move to payment by results based on a national tariff across the NHS, which is designed to reduce transaction costs. The number of NHS foundation trusts will also affect the costs.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protection he will put in place to ensure that legal and professional fees to support the new legal framework for foundation hospitals do not affect the provision of frontline health care.

John Hutton: The Department of Health will provide support for primary care trusts and other commissioners and national health service foundation trust applicants to develop competency in negotiating and framing legally binding contracts. This will include the production of a template legally binding agreement (paragraph 4.12 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts").

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether foundation hospitals will be permitted to dispose of assets.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 3.18–3.19 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that primary care trusts are involved in negotiations when foundation hospitals are seeking to raise capital independent of the NHS so that PCTs can be aware of the potential revenue implications.

John Hutton: National Health Service foundation trusts will have freedom to borrow from the public or private sectors primarily on the strength of their cash flows. These will depend on the levels of activity that they agree to provide under longer term binding agreements with primary care trusts. The cost of NHS services provided in facilities funded by private borrowing will be governed by the national tariff for NHS services, not by the cost of associated debt.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how foundation hospital trust status will affect the way that primary care trusts deliver the modernisation programme within the NHS.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will be at the cutting edge of the programme of reform that supports modernisation of the NHS. Freed from detailed performance management and with the opportunity to concentrate on results that matter for local people, NHS foundation trusts will contribute to the delivery of primary care trust modernisation programmes.

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take if foundation hospitals fail to work in partnership with primary care trusts and social services to deliver improvements in health and social well-being.

John Hutton: It will be for the independent regulator to decide whether and how to intervene, using a range of powers to be set out in forthcoming legislation (see paragraphs 3.34–3.38 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts").

Foundation Hospitals

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take if a foundation hospital fails (a) financially and (b) to meet targets for service provision.

John Hutton: It will be for the independent regulator to decide whether and how to intervene, using a range of powers to be set out in forthcoming legislation (paragraphs 3.34—3.38 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts").

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence will be required to demonstrate that local people support an application for foundation status.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 7.11 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements there will be for governors of NHS foundation trusts publicly to state their political allegiances.

John Hutton: This will be a matter for national health service foundation trusts to decide.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what control NHS foundation trusts will have over changes in the level of accident and emergency facilities.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 3.10–3.12 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 1.41 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts", what sorts of organisations could become NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 7.3 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what freedom there will be for NHS foundation trusts to vary pay and conditions for clinical staff outside the Agenda for Change Agreement.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 6.1–6.7 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if boards of governors of a NHS foundation trust will be able to remove members of a management board.

John Hutton: New legislation will set out the provisions for both appointment and dismissal of members of the management board.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine whether (a) a chair and (b) a non-executive director of a management board of a NHS foundation trust meets criteria laid down by the independent regulator; and what will happen if a person is elected as (i) a chair and (ii) a non-executive director but does not meet those criteria.

John Hutton: A national health service foundation trust will set its own criteria for elections of these individuals taking into account guidance from the independent regulator and statutory requirements. A person who does not meet the NHS foundation trust's criteria would not be eligible for election.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there will be a mechanism for appeal against a decision of the independent regulator on matters relating to NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: Arrangements will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will have a power of direction over the independent regulator for NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: No.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement of 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 272, if he will make a statement on the meaning of creation of a legal lock on the assets of NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will be prevented from selling and distributing assets necessary for the continued provision of essential services.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the costs to a NHS foundation trust of (a) setting up and (b) administering a membership register.

John Hutton: The Department of Health will work with second stage applicants to prepare for formal establishment, including practical support to develop the new governance arrangements.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether local authorities will be able to appoint members to the board of governors of an NHS foundation trust.

John Hutton: The constitution of a national health service foundation trust will set out the arrangements for appointing representatives of partner organisations to the board of governors. The minimum requirements are set out in paragraph 2.17 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". As explained in paragraphs 2.17–2.23 there will be flexibility for each NHS foundation trust to decide whether to include other partner organisations, including local authority social service departments.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the costs of setting up an Independent Regulator for NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: Costs will depend on the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Regulator, which will be set out in forthcoming legislation and on the number of national health service foundation trusts.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that borrowing by an NHS foundation trust from the private sector may be guaranteed by (a) the Secretary of State for Health, (b) strategic health authorities, (c) primary care trusts and (d) other bodies within the NHS.

John Hutton: The regime for managing financial failure in national health service foundation trusts will safeguard the Secretary of State's overriding priority—that NHS patients continue to have access to the health care they need, free at the point of delivery. The regime will not underwrite institutions that have failed to deliver under the terms of their service agreements and/or licence.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an NHS foundation trust will be able to carry out work for NHS patients without charge.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will provide services that are free at the point of use according to clinical need, not the ability to pay.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if boards of governors of NHS foundation trusts will be able to take independent advice on matters, with particular reference to the requirement to advise the management board on the trust's forward plans.

John Hutton: It is for the board of governors of each national health service foundation trust to determine what advice it requires in order to carry out its responsibilities. Any provision for allocation of resources to the board of governors will be determined by the NHS foundation trust's constitution.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of primary care trusts will need to be towards a foundation trust application to allow such an application to go forward; and which PCTs will be entitled to have their view considered.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 7.11 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". We will work with short-listed applicants to identify the relevant primary care trusts.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation he has had with the Office for National Statistics about the classification of NHS foundation trusts in the national accounts; and what advice he received.

John Hutton: None.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he defines suitable comfort in relation to private finance initiative schemes for NHS foundation trusts, as mentioned in paragraph 5.22 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

John Hutton: For national health service trusts with existing private finance initiative (PFI) projects, suitable comfort means that legislation introducing NHS foundation trusts must not affect any new NHS foundation trust's ability to meet its obligations under its PFI contract. Legislation will also ensure that NHS foundation trusts, once created, will be able to sponsor their own PFI projects using the same legislative framework as NHS trusts.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an NHS foundation trust may appear within the private sector in the national accounts.

John Hutton: This is a matter for the Office for National Statistics.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government will act as the lender of last resort for NHS foundation trusts if they are unable to borrow from private sector sources.

John Hutton: The arrangements for borrowing by national health service foundation trusts are set out in paragraph 5.13–5.16 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there will be age criteria for membership of an NHS foundation trust.

John Hutton: The criteria for membership are set out in paragraph 2.6 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the amounts due under private finance initiative contracts will be treated as borrowing for the purpose of the borrowing limits to be set for NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: No. The contract with a private finance initiative project company is for a service, and as such, does not constitute borrowing.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will be able to transfer their existing assets as part of a private finance initiative transaction.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will continue to be able to procure capital schemes using the private finance initiative process, subject to the same degree of oversight as applies under current arrangements.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will be able to carry out work for private patients through the medium of (a) subsidiary companies and (b) public private partnership arrangements.

John Hutton: Subject to compliance with licence conditions explained in paragraph 3.14–3.15 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts", national health service foundation trusts will be able to carry out work for private patients through a range of corporate arrangements.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether membership of an NHS foundation trust will be available to persons who live in (a) Scotland and (b) Wales.

John Hutton: Subject to legislation, membership will be open to residents in Scotland and Wales if they meet the eligibility criteria set by a national health service foundation trust.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what freedom the Independent Regulator will have to interpret the terms (a) 'NHS standards' and (b) 'NHS values' when deciding to (i) issue and (ii) monitor NHS foundation trust licences.

John Hutton: The role and responsibilities of the Independent Regulator will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there will be for the elections to boards of governors of NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 2.25–2.28 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will assume control of a foundation trust which is dissolved; and how services will continue to be provided in that case.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 3.38 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from when care trusts will be eligible for establishment as NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 7.3 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a person will need to be on the electoral register in order to register as a member of an NHS foundation trust.

John Hutton: The criteria for membership are set out in paragraph 2.6 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will draw up each foundation trust's statement of purpose; what legal status a statement will have; and what powers the Secretary of State will have to alter such statements.

John Hutton: Details will be set out in each national health service foundation trust's constitution subject to requirements in forthcoming legislation (see paragraph 3.5 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts"). The Secretary of State will have no power to alter a NHS foundation trust's statement of purpose.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses of the term protection of the public interest in paragraph 1.16 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

John Hutton: Protecting the public interest in this context refers to safeguards that will ensure the continued provision of essential public services and prevent distribution of the assets necessary for the continued provision of those services.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an NHS foundation trust will be able to invest surplus financial assets as it wishes.

John Hutton: The position is explained in paragraph 3.5 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Details will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the prudential code referred to in paragraph 5.17 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 3.17 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the willingness of the private sector to lend money for capital projects to NHS foundation trusts in the absence of security on the related assets.

John Hutton: There has been widespread consultation with the financial community throughout the development of the national health service foundation trust policy. Lenders are not looking to take security over assets crucial to the provision of essential public services. NHS foundation trusts will borrow primarily on the strength of their projected cash flows.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the strict limits on the provision by NHS foundation hospitals of services to private patients referred to in paragraph 3.4 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts" will be defined; and whether it will be possible for an NHS foundation hospital to apply for a revision to the limits.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraph 3.15 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". The limit will not be subject to revision. Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what calculations he has made of the potential membership communities for NHS foundation hospitals situated in (a) London and (b) other large urban areas.

John Hutton: The membership community will vary across national health service foundation trusts and it will be up to each applicant to set out boundaries on the basis of minimum criteria to be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if an NHS foundation trust will be required to charge standard tariffs for each area of its activity.

John Hutton: The position is set out in paragraphs 5.6–5.12 and 5.25–5.29 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how it will be determined what portion of debt of an NHS trust is associated with particular assets that are transferred.

John Hutton: The intention is that on establishment a national health service foundation trust will inherit the balance sheet of its predecessor NHS trust. Assets will be transferred at the value shown in the accounts of NHS trust.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which council is referred to in paragraph 2.22 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

John Hutton: The term Xcouncil" should read Xboard of governors".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the statutory responsibilities of (a) member of a board of governors, (b) chair of a board of governors, (c) chair of a management board, (d) non-executive director of a management board and (e) executive member of a management board of an NHS foundation trust will be.

John Hutton: The statutory responsibilities of these individuals will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources will be available to boards of governors of NHS foundation hospitals to enable them to carry out their functions.

John Hutton: Subject to legislation, this will be a matter for the national health service foundation trust to determine.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the level of (a) financial and (b) other resources available to the independent regulator for NHS foundation hospitals will be determined.

John Hutton: Provision for the establishment of the independent regulator, including funding, will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons NHS foundation trusts will not be able to use their regulated assets as security for borrowing.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts will not be allowed to use their regulated assets as security against borrowing to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of financial failure.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is meant by public interest mandate in paragraph 5.24 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

John Hutton: Public interest mandate in this context refers to the public interest duties that will be enshrined in the licence of each national health service foundation trust that are described in paragraph 3.5 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the independent regulator for NHS foundation trusts will be independent of the Secretary of State for Health.

John Hutton: The independent regulator will not be subject to direction by the Secretary of State for Health.

Foundation Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to ensure that the board of governors of a NHS foundation trust is not dominated by (a) a particular group of members and (b) a sectional interest.

John Hutton: Yes, paragraphs 2.17–2.28 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts" set out clearly that national health service foundation trusts will need to establish a properly representative public and patient membership base and set up a board of governors that is balanced and representative of the whole membership community.

Halal Foods

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate the sale of halal foods.

Hazel Blears: There are no plans. However, the Food Standards Agency is about to issue advice to food law enforcement officers on halal food issues, and they will be asked to have regard to this advice and consider action under appropriate legislation where this is necessary.

Health Provision

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what areas of public health provision are supplied in competition with the private sector.

Hazel Blears: In general there is no competition between the private and public sector in the provision of public health. An occasional exception is the complementary provision of microbiological pathology laboratory services by the Public Health Laboratory Service and the National Health Service, where some private laboratories also provide analysis of food environmental and water samples. At local level it is for primary care groups to determine the mix of public/ private provision and public sector providers may tender for contracts, for example, those advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Hospices

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to end the differences in funding for children's hospices and adult hospices in Leicestershire;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to PCTs in their purchase of palliative care in children's hospices;
	(3)  if he will make available some of the additional funding he has allocated for palliative care to children's hospices.

Hazel Blears: Guidance was issued in 1998 entitled XEvaluation of the Pilot Project Programme for Children with Life Threatening Illnesses". This evaluation included the role of children's hospices. Further consideration will be given to this role during the preparation of the national service framework for children. It will also be highlighted through the New Opportunities Funding for children's palliative care projects—and I understand this funding will be available shortly. Purchasing decisions for health care services, including palliative care services, will however remain a matter for local primary care trusts. Hospices serving the needs of either children or adults need to engage with PCTs and negotiate funding for services provided, from that which has been made available.

Hospital Beds

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the definition is of a hospital bed for statistical purposes.

David Lammy: The full definition of what is counted as a hospital bed for statistical purposes is included in the National Health Service information authority's data dictionary, available through their website at http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/datastandards/pages/version2.asp
	In summary, a bed includes a device that may be used to permit a patient to lie down when the need to do so is as a consequence of the patient's condition rather than the need for active intervention such as examination, diagnostic investigation, manipulation/treatment, or transport.

Labelling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards a clearer labelling system on animal meat products to ensure that the consumer can tell where the animal (a) originated and (b) was slaughtered.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 January 2003
	Compulsory labelling rules already apply to all fresh, chilled and frozen beef and veal, including mince. These rules require information about the country or countries of birth, rearing, slaughter and cutting to be given on the label. The European Commission is expected to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council later this year on extending the scope of these rules to cover processed products containing beef, and beef based products.
	The Government wants to see compulsory origin labelling on a wider range of foods, particularly other meats and meat ingredients in meat products, and statutory controls on the use of terms like Xproduce of". The European Commission has identified rules on origin labelling as one of the key issues to be taken forward in a comprehensive review of food labelling legislation, which is due to be initiated shortly.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust decision on the use of NHS professionals.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust has decided not to renew their two-year contract with their current provider of NHS Professionals when it expires in June 2003.
	However the trust remains completely committed to the principles of NHS Professionals. They are keen to see improvements in the management of temporary staffing and achieving the NHS Professionals standards. The trust is working with the local work force development and NHS Professionals to ensure the timescales and standards set by the Department of Health on temporary staffing are met before their current contract expires.

Looked After Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which 10 authorities have the (a) highest and (b) lowest numbers of looked-after children listed as missing.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The total number of looked-after children who went missing from their usual place of residence at any time during the year ending 31 March 2001 was 920. There are currently no statistics available to distinguish the 10 local authorities with the highest and lowest numbers of looked-after children listed as missing.
	Data on children who have gone missing from care is obtained from the Department of Health form SSDA903, a statistical return completed by local authorities for one third of all looked-after children. As these data are based on a one-third sample and the figures reported by authorities on children missing from care are small, it is not possible to produce a reliable comparison across authorities. In addition, analysis on the sample numbers has shown that there is a wide variation in the figures between local authorities-suggesting inconsistency in recording practices which may in turn suggest under-reporting. The figures may therefore be under-stating the actual numbers of children who go missing from care during the year.
	The SSDA903 data collection will start recording information for 100 per cent. of looked-after children for the year ending 31 March 2004. A robust analysis of children missing from care by local authority will be possible when those results are analysed in the autumn of 2004.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how his Department ensures that every mental health patient has access to a general practitioner.

Jacqui Smith: Improving the quality of and access to care is a strategic priority for the National Health Service. Anyone, including those with mental health problems, ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom is eligible for free treatment by a general practitioner.
	In addition, NHS Direct (0845 4647), the nurse-led telephone helpline, now provides a country-wide confidential, consistent source of advice on health care, including mental health care, round the clock so people can manage their problems at home or be re-directed to the appropriate place.
	We have also taken action to strengthen the mental health support that GPs provide. For example, 1,000 new primary care mental health workers and 500 more community mental health staff ('Gateway' workers) will be appointed by 2004 to help GPs manage care for people with mental health problems of all ages, including those in a crisis.
	Further information about these initiatives can be found on the mental health website at www.doh.qov.uk/mentalhealth.

Mid-Essex Hospital Trust (Waiting Times)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the mid-Essex hospital trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Lammy: There were 9,675 patients waiting for in-patient treatment at mid-Essex Hospital Services national health service trust at the end of October 2002.
	Source:
	KHO7 return

National Insurance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the extra cost will be in a full year to (a) the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust; and (b) employees of the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust of the increase in national insurance contributions from April 2003.

David Lammy: holding answer 7 January 2003
	It is not possible to estimate the exact cost to Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service trust and its employees of the increase in national insurance (NI) contributions from April 2003. It is estimated that the changes to employees' NI contributions will increase pay costs by an average of 0.7 per cent. next year.

NHS Dentistry

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what criteria were used to allocate the funds which were announced in XModernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan" to improve access to NHS dentistry;
	(2)  if he will list the name of each dental practice and dental access centre that has received money from the funds that were made available to NHS dentistry which were announced in the Government's dental strategy, XModernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan", broken down by primary care trust.

David Lammy: Some of the funding announced in XModernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan" was paid to the then health authorities to pass on to individual dental practices in accordance with local needs. Information is not held centrally on which individual practices received the money.
	The funds of #25 million revenue and #7 million capital announced in XModernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan" were made available to the following 27 dental access centres:
	Avon
	Bury and Rochdale
	East Kent
	Gloucestershire
	Hereford
	Hull and East Riding
	Kings Lynn and Wisbech
	Lincolnshire
	Milton Keynes
	Morecambe Bay
	North Cumbria
	North and East Devon
	North Mersey
	North Staffordshire
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
	Plymouth
	Shropshire
	Somerset
	South Cheshire
	South Staffordshire
	Surrey (East and West)
	Victoria Mill
	Warrington
	Warwickshire
	Worcestershire
	While individual primary care trusts (PCTs) have been identified to take lead responsibility for each dental access centre, the service is available to patients regardless of where they live. A single dental access centre may be providing services from a number of different sites located within more than one PCT.
	The criteria used to allocate the Modernisation Fund of #35 million have been placed in the Library.
	Allocations of the #4 million Dental Care Development Fund and the subsequent #6 million Dentistry Action Plan monies were based on (in order of importance):
	a) health authorities' reports to the Department on the situation in their areas;
	b) estimates of the percentage of national health service dental surgeries taking on new patients, based on new registrations reported to the dental practice board;
	c) the change in NHS adult registrations between June 1999 and June 2000;
	d) the area not covered by NHS surgeries taking on new patients; and
	e) existing and prospective schemes to improve NHS dental availability—i.e. dental access centres, personal dental service projects and investing in dentistry schemes.
	Dental practices were able to use the dental care development fund money to expand their surgeries or buy extra equipment, for example, and were expected to treat an agreed number of additional NHS patients in return.

NHS Dentistry

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been made available to dentists for (a) the establishment of new NHS practices and (b) the refurbishment and extension of existing NHS dental practices in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The modernisation fund, the dental care development fund and the dentistry action plan fund were made available in 2001–02 to health authorities (HAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) to improve local access to national health service dentistry. These monies could be used towards the establishment of new NHS dental practices or refurbishment and extension of existing ones. Information about funding allocated, including any financial contributions from the NHS locally to individual practices by HAs or PCTs, is not held centrally.

NHS Organisations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to determine whether an organisation is a part of the NHS.

John Hutton: National health service services are provided by a mix of public and private sector organisations. The service provided for NHS patients must be free at the point of use and provided according to clinical need not ability to pay.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03;
	(2)  what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

David Lammy: holding answers 3 December 2002
	The total expenditure for travel and subsistence by officials of the Department and its Agencies for 2001–02 was #14.3 million. Travel and subsistence costs are one element in the overall budget for administrative costs and there is no separate budget figure for official travel costs in 2002–03.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the length of the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery in the (a) Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust area, (b) the Bedfordshire Hospital NHS Trust area, (c) the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust area and (d) the Addenbrookes NHS Trust area (i) is now and (ii) was in each of the preceding five years.

John Hutton: The table shows the requested national health service trusts in-patient waiting list size for specialty Trauma and Orthopaedics from the end of June (Ql) 2002 to the end of September (Q2) 2002.
	
		
			   Total number of patients waiting for an in-patient admission in specialty Trauma and Orthopaedics  
			 Name of Trust End of June (Ql) 2002 End of September (Q2) 2002 
		
		
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 1,305 1,345 
			 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 1,107 1,141 
			 The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 2,413 2,403 
			 Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 1,645 1,476 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07
	(See also: www.doh.qov.uk/waitinqtimes)

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed.

David Lammy: The Department, including its Agencies, uses postcodes or postcode-related information as follows:
	(a) In collection of a variety of information by geographical area, including use as a sampling frame on which to base sample surveys. Postcode information is used both to identify locations and as a basis to derive data about larger geographic areas, including for fixed geographic areas over time. Where published, including through maps, data are usually presented in terms of defined administrative areas derived from postcode information, not in terms of postcode areas. All departmental data collection is reviewed periodically and the use of postcodes and postcode-related information is included in such review.
	(b) Postcode information is used as part of the process of determining eligibility for additional payments to dentists relating to children aged under six years in deprived areas. This arrangement was made in 1998 and was amended from being based on the postcode of the dentist's surgery to the postcode of residence of the patient in April 2002.
	(c) The Department does not use postcodes in its own delivery of services other than for addressing and indexing correspondence, or for referring enquirers to local services.
	The Department is also involved in projects under the neighbourhood statistics initiative to improve the geographic referencing of its statistics, and this will include reviews of current collection and use of postcode information.

Prostate Cancer

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the statistical incidence of prostate cancer in each of the last 10 years for which records exist.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Robert Spink, dated 13 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the statistical incidence of prostate cancer in each of the last ten years for which records exist. I am replying in his absence. (89679)
	The latest available cancer incidence rates are for newly diagnosed cases of cancer in 1999. The directly age standardised registration rates for prostate cancer in England for the ten year period 1990–99 are given in the table below.
	
		Directly age standardised(40) registration rates per 100,000 males for prostate(41) cancer in England, 1990–99
		
			  Malignant neoplasm of prostate(41) 
		
		
			 1990 47.2 
			 1991 49.6 
			 1992 54.4 
			 1993 58.5 
			 1994 66.1 
			 1995 69.0 
			 1996 72.3 
			 1997 71.2 
			 1998 68.5 
			 1999 72.6 
		
	
	(40) Using the European Standard Population
	(41) For the year 1991 to 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision Code (ICD-9), code 185. For the years 1995 to 1999, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), code C61.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics. XCancer statistics—registrations, England 1999". Series MB1 no. 30. London: The Stationary Office, 2002. Available on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/Mb1_30/MB1_30.pdf

Rainbows Children's Hospice

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much statutory funding has been paid to Rainbows Children's Hospice in 2001–02.

David Lammy: For the year 2001–02 Leicestershire Health Authority allocated #26,000 to the Rainbows Children's Hospice. This funding was provided under Section 64, of Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, providing a grant to a voluntary group for respite, palliative and terminal care for children.
	The Department's view on funding in support of children's hospices is that this should be through negotiation between the hospices, primary care trusts and social services departments, which are responsible for delivering services locally and are best placed to work in partnership with organisations like hospices and to agree an appropriate level of funding.
	There is, however, a case for pump priming these negotiations. We expect this to be facilitated through the New Opportunities Fund, which has a budget of #48 million to support projects for children with life threatening illness, including children's hospice respite services. #15.3 million has been earmarked specifically for hospice care. Awards will be available next year.

Secure Psychiatric Accommodation

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places are available for secure psychiatric accommodation for women; how many such places were available five years ago; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of such provision with special reference to changes in the prison population.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Currently, beds in secure psychiatric accommodation are not always designated by gender so it is not possible to be specific about the number of places that are available for women. Returns indicate that at the end of March 2001, the latest date for which information is currently available, there were 4,847 secure beds, compared to 3,845 secure beds at the end of March 1998. These figures include high, medium and other secure bed numbers and cover all genders.
	The consultation document XWomen's Mental Health: Into the Mainstream", published in September last year, envisages the development of dedicated, integrated, secure services for women. The needs of women requiring transfer from prison to hospital will be taken into account as part of the process of planning these proposed new services.

Sex Selection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether in reaching his decision to ask the HFEA to consult the public on sex selection, he considered the results of the previous (1993) HFEA public consultation on this; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will publish the results of the HFEA 1993 public consultation on sex selection;
	(3)  what conclusions were drawn from the HFEA 1993 public consultation on sex selection; and what assessment he has made of public perception of the issue.

Hazel Blears: The results of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's 1993 public consultation on sex selection were published in an HFEA press release on 20 July 1993 and were summarised in the HFEA's third annual report, published in July 1994. The HFEA concluded that sex selection should only be permitted for medical reasons where there is a risk of a child of a particular sex inheriting a serious life-threatening disorder. A copy of the annual report is available in the Library and a copy of the press release is available from the HFEA.

Sex Selection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis the HFEA in their current consultation on sex selection stated that India does not prohibit social sex selection.

Hazel Blears: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority advises that regrettably this was an error in the consultation document. The law in India prohibits the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques to determine the sex of an embryo for social reasons but variations in practice have been reported.

Thrombolysis

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of NHS ambulance trusts publish data on their thrombolysis protocols and procedures;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to improve the ability of ambulance paramedics to provide thrombolysis for appropriate patients.

David Lammy: Currently eight of the 31 ambulance services are providing paramedic thrombolysis according to protocols agreed by local health economies. These protocols are based on a clear guideline from the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC) published on the Royal College of Physicians' and Ambulance Services Association websites. They are available from the individual ambulance services on request. Paramedic training is essential for safe and effective thrombolysis. Central funding of #14 million from 2002 to 2004 is being invested in ambulance trusts to support paramedic training and provide 12 lead ECG monitors/defibrillators and linked to accident and emergency departments. All front-line 999 ambulances will be equipped by December 2003.

Visually Impaired Children

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what treatment is available on the NHS to visually impaired children; and what services are available to visually impaired children living in disadvantaged areas to assist them in managing in their neighbourhood environment.

David Lammy: The national health service provides ophthalmic services to visually impaired children, making use of a multi-disciplinary approach to meet their needs. The hospital eye service (HES) works closely with each child's general practitioner, education, social and rehabilitation services, exchanging reports and information.
	Ophthalmologists aim to identify the underlying cause of the problem and offer treatment if indicated. They also co-ordinate the response from the HES.
	Orthoptists work closely with ophthalmologists and assess visual function, visual acuity and binocular vision; under the direction of an ophthalmologist, they provide treatment aimed at improving visual acuity and oculo-motor control.
	Optometrists test the sight of visually impaired children and prescribe glasses and/or low vision aids. Children under the age of 16, and under the age of 19 in full-time education, are entitled to help with the cost of their glasses through the NHS voucher scheme. Optical low vision aids are supplied on loan through the HES.
	The Government's cross government programmes for children give priority to children in disadvantaged areas and to disabled children. Sure start partnerships aim to work with parents and children up to four years old to provide appropriate early intervention and support. The #450 million children's fund is being targeted on preventive work with children, primarily in the five to 13 age group and their families, helping them before they hit crisis.
	Under the Children Act 1989, local authority social services departments in England, working with other local authority departments and health authorities, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area who are in need and to promote the upbringing of such children, wherever possible by their families, through providing an appropriate range of services. Under the definitions in the Children Act, all disabled children are included as children in need. A wide range of family support services is provided by the public and voluntary sectors. Services can include short-term breaks, guidance and counselling, day care, family centres and home help.